M.C. Higgins, the Great Characters

Think of M.C. as a guy's guy. He's super-outdoorsy, like Bear Grylls level of outdoorsy-ness. He's got grit, athleticism, and—oh yeah—he's only thirteen. Throw him into the wild, and he'll prob...

Her name says it all: Lurhetta is that character that just doesn't fit into any category except outlaw. She's the one who refuses to go with the flow, the one who pushes other people to think and a...

The Big, Bad DaddyTough love. That's what Jones is all about. What do we mean by that? Here's an example from one of M.C.'s memories about his father and him:The first time [M.C.] had tried to swim...

The Perfect MomYou can't get a more perfect mother than Banina Higgins. Not once in the three days the book covers does she get angry. Not that three days is a long time, but the way M.C. describes...

James is one of those supporting characters who becomes significant because he's a truth-teller. He's not as bold as Lurhetta Outlaw (more on her elsewhere in this section), but he similarly refuse...

The InnocentIf there's one thing you need to know about Ben, it's that he's completely harmless. That's important because his harmlessness reveals just how ignorant and mean M.C.'s father can be. L...

Ben's father doesn't show up a lot in the book, but when he does, you know there's a serious point being made. Like when he shows up at the Higgins' house with the ice he's selling. Jones freaks ou...