The Cost of Knowing

Isaiah Rufus is Alex’s little brother. In Chapter 9, Alex provides a physical description of Isaiah that reminds himself and the reader that his sibling is only 12 years old: “His feet dangle off the side of my bed, and his small frame is drowning in one of dad’s T-shirts, the collar hanging lopsided off his bony shoulder” (206). Isaiah’s gangly frame emphasizes that he is only a child, but his thin shoulders already carry heavy burdens. At the start of the novel, Isaiah shows signs of depression. His visions cause him to dwell in regret, especially about the deaths of his parents and Shaun. With Alex’s help, Isaiah is able to regain his hope and show more of his personality. The creative 12-year-old dreams of being a rapper and spends much of his time composing songs and writing lyrics. Isaiah applies his creativity to his and Alex’s psychic situation, offering insightful solutions. He determines that their powers were triggered by near-death experiences and that facing their greatest fears could break the curse. Isaiah’s epiphany elicits the following praise from his older brother: “This goofy BeatBall-playing kid in front of me might still be a kid, but he’s wise when he wants to be” (198). While the Isaiah the reader initially meets is haunted by regret, his creativity and cleverness emerge over the course of the story.

Isaiah is a dynamic supporting character who advances the novel’s plot and themes. The transformation that the 12-year-old undergoes in his final days testifies to The Importance of Brotherhood. Having Alex actively involved in his life again gives Isaiah hope, courage, and joy. His recaptured happiness often bursts forth in the form of singing and dancing. In a matter of days, Isaiah goes from cloistered in his room to living his life’s dream by rapping with his favorite artist in front of a crowd of thousands. In addition to showcasing the importance of brotherhood, Isaiah plays a fundamental role in the novel’s plot and the protagonist’s motivation. Alex’s vision of Isaiah’s burial in Chapter 2 sets the rest of the story into motion as he resolves to fill his brother’s last days with hope and meaning: “Isn’t that what my whole mission has become? Bringing him joy?” (149). Prioritizing Isaiah’s safety and happiness brings about the novel’s conflicts, including the tensions with Talia and Scoop, and the most significant events, including the Shiv Skeptic concert. Isaiah also plays an important part in the magical realism novel’s exposition because he explains to Alex how the curse began centuries ago and suggests a way to break it. At the end of the novel, Alex is certain that Isaiah is watching over him with his ancestors and resolves to live in a way that makes Isaiah proud “that he spent his time on this earth as [his] brother” (321). Isaiah has a profound effect on the novel’s theme, plot, and protagonist.

MacKayla Kaplan is Alex’s aunt and guardian. When she first appears in Chapter 2, Alex notes that Aunt Mackie’s “normally shoulder-length wash-and-go is now twisted up into Marleys, tied into a giant bun right at the crown of her head—neat and professional” (35). Her appearance reflects her love of tidiness and her imperturbable exterior. Her accomplishments as a real estate agent allow her to own a home in the gated community of Santiam Estates and make her famous in Chicago: “Her face is on buses, park benches, and taxis” (32). In addition to modeling professional success, Alex’s guardian is also an example of resilience in her personal life. After losing her sister, she became Alex and Isaiah’s guardian. However, Aunt Mackie’s fame doesn’t shield her from prejudice: “I’ve been pulled over by officers who had nothing better to do than make sure I didn’t steal [my Mercedes-Benz]. I’ve had cops assume I’m a sex worker, a drug dealer, the wife of one of those” (291). Aunt Mackie remains resilient in the face of personal tragedy and systemic injustice. She conceals her pain and hardships from her nephews and offers them her love, pride, and wisdom. In Chapter 9, she tells Alex that he and his brother “give [her] life meaning” (189) and teaches him that “[j]oy in the midst of oppression is its own kind of bravery” (191). These words inspire Alex during the climax at the concert. The steadfast Aunt Mackie is a model of professional achievement, personal resilience, and loving wisdom.

Brittney Morris uses Aunt Mackie to develop the novel’s themes and subvert stereotypes. Alex’s conversation with his aunt in Chapter 9 explores The Pressure to Grow Up Too Soon. She recognizes the stress Alex is under and thanks him for being a good role model for his little brother as she says, “You constantly impress me. And you, Alex, have been a stellar example to Isaiah of what it means to be a man. Even when it’s scary” (189). Later, after Isaiah’s death, she develops the theme of the pressure to grow up too soon by reminding Alex that he isn’t an adult yet and that he cannot eradicate prejudice on his own. By allowing Aunt Mackie to lower her walls and express her fear and sorrow, Morris subverts the stereotype of the “strong Black woman.” Aunt Mackie provides a safe, stable home for her nephews and is a loving if stern guardian to them, but she knows she can’t protect them from everything. The death of the unarmed 16-year-old rattles her by reminding her of the danger her nephews are always facing. Alex notes that this is the first time he’s seen his aunt in tears because she didn’t cry at her sister’s funeral, and he “always thought she got by with substituting duty where sadness would be” (185). Likewise, he describes his aunt as “an unscalable fortress” and “the strongest person” he knows in Chapter 13 (286). However, personal strength is not the same as invulnerability, and pretending otherwise can damage an individual’s well-being. Morris subverts stereotypes about Black women by creating the multi-faceted Aunt Mackie and honoring her resilience as well as her vulnerability.

Talia Gomez is Alex’s girlfriend. Alex’s description of her makes his feelings for her clear: “She grins up at me with a knowing smile framed by bubblegum-pink lips. […] I’d recognize those big brown eyes anywhere. Relief washes over me like rain across the wildfire of stress I’ve been battling all morning” (20). As this excerpt demonstrates, Alex and Talia’s relationship is a respite from the anxiety that torments him. Despite the grief that they’ve both experienced from losing parents and Shaun, Talia brings light into Alex’s life: “That’s how it works with Talia—her laugh, her smile, the way she flips her hair. The whole room feels brighter” (20). Talia sincerely cares about Alex and wants a future with him as seen when she points out the kind of house that she hopes to have with him one day. Her joy is contagious, and he cherishes how emotionally affectionate she is with him. However, conflict arises between the two when she wants to have more physical intimacy than he is ready for. Talia becomes concerned when Alex repeatedly declines her offers to have sex with him with little explanation and when he refuses to share his emotions and thoughts with her on other subjects as well. Feeling rejected, the usually cheerful young woman becomes confused and self-conscious as a result. At the concert, she confronts him about the emotional distance he’s created between them: “You know why I fell in love with you, Alex? You used to care. Now it feels like you’re a million miles away” (216). Talia is a loving, cheerful optimist, but Alex’s secrecy tests the limits of her sunny disposition.

Talia contributes to the novel’s plot and themes and ultimately grows closer to Alex. In Chapter 1, Alex has a vision of a bitter exchange between himself and Talia, and this foreshadowed fight looms over him until it comes true in Chapter 10. Alex’s interactions with Talia in the intervening chapters show how his powers physically and emotionally isolate him from others, even someone he loves. One of the sources of conflict between the teenagers is The Pressure to Grow Up Too Soon. In Chapter 8, Talia challenges Alex to act his age, asking, “Can you just be sixteen with me? For once?” (181). As this excerpt indicates, she doesn’t yet grasp the personal and societal pressures that make Alex feel compelled to act like an adult. Her character arc involves coming to a better understanding of Alex. She encourages him to communicate his thoughts and feelings, and he eventually promises to be honest with her. Two of the most important developments for her characterization are learning about Alex’s foreknowledge of Shaun’s death and forgiving him for hiding the truth. Talia changes over the course of the story by coming to terms with her own insecurities. When she and Alex reconcile in the hospital, she apologizes for pressuring him to have sex before he’s ready. Accompanying Talia to Shaun’s grave is an important moment of healing for Alex and for the young couple. Talia and Alex’s relationship ultimately grows stronger over the course of the novel and gives the story a hopeful resolution.