Romiette and Julio

In the words of protagonist Romiette “Romi” Cappelle herself, “I am brown, like the earth, tall and slim like a poplar tree, and outspoken like the wind on a stormy day” (4). Sixteen-year-old Romi exudes confidence, pride, and a willingness to explore her identity as an African American girl. In many ways, she is a typical teenager with various likes (environmentally safe products, chili, and macadamia nut cookies) and dislikes (picky people, watermelon, and chocolate). But unlike many teenage characters who are framed as emotional and irrational, she is decidedly practical; however, her friendship with the aptly named Destiny allows her to appreciate the spiritual as well. Romi experiences a recurring drowning dream, as she cannot swim, but Destiny’s talk of soul mates and the eventual manifestation of her nightmare (i.e., transfer student-turned-friend Julio Montague saving her from drowning) allow her to conquer her fear of open water.

Despite the negative reputation of the Black gang at her high school, the Devildogs, and her being mistakenly linked to them, Romi remains proud of her African heritage—as her father’s job as a successful newscaster and her mother’s dealings with expensive African artifacts give her a strong sense of cultural identity.