The Worst Class Trip Ever

Wyatt describes Matt as his best friend since kindergarten, adding: “[H]e can be an idiot. But […] even though we’re in eighth grade, and he’s sometimes unbelievably annoying, I’m kind of stuck with him” (7-8). Matt is characterized as being impulsive, prone to indulging conspiracy theories, and sometimes acting foolishly. For these reasons, he often provides the comic relief as the story unfolds. Significantly, Matt’s rash actions provide the inciting event that drives the primary plotline forward, for the children’s escapades in Washington, DC, occur because Matt mistakenly believes that Woltar and Lemi are planning a terrorist attack on the White House. When he impulsively steals their missile jammer, his theft prompts them to pursue the children in an attempt to get it back. However, the story takes a dramatic turn when the two men kidnap Matt, prompting Wyatt and his friends to rescue him. Matt and Wyatt’s relationship exemplifies The Dynamics of Friendship, while Matt’s specific role in the narrative highlights The Humorous Effects of Misdirection and Misunderstandings.

Suzana is a popular eighth grader and serves as Wyatt’s romantic interest in the novel. From the very beginning, he is deeply enamored of Suzana, and this attraction is also seasoned with a healthy dollop of humor when he admits to being jealous of her superior height. As he admits, “I really, really like Suzana Delgado, who is the most beautiful girl in the eighth grade and probably the world. […] Basically she’s perfect, except for her height, which is: tall. Or at least taller than me (15). Suzana is characterized as smart, quick-witted, and assertive. Once she joins Wyatt and Matt’s quest to thwart Woltar and Lemi’s supposed attack, Suzana is often depicted taking charge and acting responsibly. Wyatt even comments that she is “the kind of person who really liked having a plan” (86), although he notes that she seems very eager to take part in a dangerous adventure.

In fact, Suzana directly inspires Wyatt to be brave throughout the novel, for he is often awed by her intelligence and skills, but when she is unable to stop Woltar despite her impressive martial arts training, the moment marks a turn in Wyatt and Suzana’s relationship. This is the first time that Suzana fails, prompting Wyatt to take charge instead, and he seizes the opportunity to step into the role of a hero and gain a new level of confidence even as he perceives Suzana in a more realistic light. At the end of the novel, Suzana is still depicted as brave and assertive, for she urges Wyatt to ask her out and initiates a kiss between them, saying, “Wyatt. […] If you don’t ask me to the prom, I will kick your butt. I will hong fo you right through the cafeteria wall, here and now. And you know I can” (180).

Alongside Wyatt, Matt, and Suzana, Cameron and Victor are the other two eighth graders who attempt to save the president. They are both brought into the group after Woltar and Lemi barge into the hotel room and kidnap Matt. Cameron mostly serves as comic relief throughout the novel, and his most distinct trait is his ability to fart on command. He is initially depicted as a class clown, and Wyatt demonstrates a clear dislike of him, but the two eventually develop a closer friendship. In many ways, Cameron’s behavior resembles Matt’s comedic antics, for Wyatt describes Cameron as being generally reckless and foolish. These observations highlight the shifts involved in The Dynamics of Friendship. Significantly, Cameron is the first person who befriends Woltar and Lemi and realizes that he and his friends have been wrong about the Gadakistani men’s intentions.

Serving as a foil to Cameron, Victor is smart and far more sensible. He remains behind when the others go out to confront Woltar and Lemi, acting as a back-up just in case someone needs to alert the authorities. He also does most of the research that helps Wyatt and his friends to form viable plans, as when he learns the full details about Gadakistan and President Brevalov. His father works as an intelligence analyst for the US military, which also proves useful in identifying the missile jammer. As a result, Victor’s presence serves several utilitarian purposes, increasing narrative tension and inserting key exposition at decisive moments.