Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Louis, Mrs. Jewls

Both Louis and Mrs. Jewls serve as guides and mentors for the kids of Wayside, although it's fair to say that sometimes the opposite is true, and the kids teach the adults a few lessons too. Even though it's not his job to teach math or spelling, Louis often serves as a mediator, referee, or friendly ear for any kid with a problem. "Let's go get Louis. He'll know what to do" (1.30), Maurecia says in the very first story, and that idea comes up again throughout the book.

Mrs. Jewls, who's tasked with actually making sure the kids learn something academic, often has a difficult job, especially when her kids can't count correctly or can only read upside-down. She's not always right—in fact, she asks Allison for help with an arithmetic problem, except it happens to be a spelling word. ("I always get the two mixed up" (23.28), she admits.) Mrs. Jewls is also notoriously bad at picking the correct kid to discipline, mistakenly punishing Todd on a daily basis for no clear reason.

However, she does take her job seriously, and it's thanks to Mrs. Jewls that Joe learns to count, John learns to read, and Dana stops itching her mosquito bites. Dedicated to the kids at all hours of the day, Mrs. Jewls even makes ice cream at home flavored like each member of her class—which is both pretty gross and definitely shows she cares.