Meet the Cast
Tom Dennis Fitzgerald, a.k.a. The Great Brain
Anyone who nicknames himself the Great Brain and constantly refers to his "great brain" (no citation here, because we do mean constantly) clearly doesn't lack confidence or cleverness. And so it is...
John Dennis Fitzgerald, a.k.a. J.D.
J.D. is our narrator, and also Tom's younger brother. Looking up at Tom, J.D. admires him even as he questions his brother's motives. He wants to stop Tom, and he wants to be Tom. In other words, h...
Sweyn Dennis Fitzgerald
The eldest of the Fitzgerald boys, Sweyn is going on twelve. While he still plays with Tom and J.D. quite a bit and even teaches J.D. to swim, he has one foot in the adult world. He's not part of T...
Mamma (Tena Fitzgerald)
As was common for middle-class women in 1896, Mamma's job is to care for her home and family. As the long-suffering mother of three rambunctious boys and wife to a man who has a practical career bu...
Papa
Papa is the editor of the town newspaper, the Adenville Weekly Advocate. J.D. explains: I thought Papa was the greatest man in the world except for one weakness. Papa just couldn't resist ordering...
Aunt Bertha
Aunt Bertha is the extra member in the Fitzgerald household: "She wasn't really our aunt, but we called her Aunt Bertha because she was just like one of the family" (1.29). We know very little abou...
Other Important Adults
Uncle MarkUncle Mark is married to Papa's sister, Aunt Cathie. He is the town marshal and a deputy sheriff, which makes him super cool in the Fitzgerald boys' eyes. Also he gives great birthday pre...
Neighborhood Kids
Andy AndersonThe target of the Great Brain's final scheme, Andy is also the reason for the Great Brain's ultimate reformation. Over the summer, Andy gets gangrene in his foot from stepping on a rus...
Animals
BrownieBrownie is J.D.'s dog: "Brownie was the only dog we had ever owned who wasn't a mongrel. He was a purebred Alaskan" (3.1). Brownie's purebred status means he's desirable dating material, so...
Minor Characters
Aunt CathieAunt Cathie is Papa's sister, but she appears in the book only once and never says a word. She is notable mainly for being married to Uncle Mark, who is the town's marshal, and way cool...
Very Minor Characters
Dave TellerDave Teller is the shoemaker.Fred TannerFred Tanner runs the livery station.Irene Olsen and Christine MackieTom sees these two girls jumping rope, which gives him an idea for how to help...