Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Sadna (Pima's mom)

Sadna is the first mentor to Nailer's physical and emotional journey. She steps in as caregiver when he lives with his good-for-nothing father on Bright Sands Beach, and she advises him about what to do when he needs to figure out whether he will give Nita to his father or flee with the swank. When Sadna talks about family, or killing, or morality, Nailer listens. We should too.

Tool

Sadna kind of passes the mentoring baton to Tool when Nailer, Tool, and Nita journey to Orleans. And Tool runs with it. As a half-man he provides a new perspective about what loyalty is, the role of intelligence in class divisions, and what it means to be human. He protects Nailer and Nita as best he can in the slums of Orleans, and discussions with him cause Nailer and Nita to question their beliefs about the world. Even though Tool ends up leaving Nailer toward the end of the book, his words of wisdom stick with our protagonist far beyond his presence.