The major characters are Virgil - a timid boy from a loud, talkative Filipino family who frets about the fact that he never developed the courage to talk to the girl he has a crush on: Valencia. Valencia is deaf, and she is lonely because she is deaf (as other kids her age have trouble taking the time to make sure she can read their lips), but rather than wallow in self-pity, Valencia gathers strength in her solitude. Kaori is a fortune teller who Virgil tells his problems to, and her sister Gen often proves a bit too helpful. Perhaps it's a bit stereotypical that the one Asian-American character practice fortune telling, but her serious, no-nonsense personality won me over. Finally there is Chet, the bully and probably the least developed, though scenes showing him with his father give some insight into his behavior. It seems that white males are the only "safe" villains anymore, whereas making someone as bullheaded and obnoxious as Chet any other race might draw some controversy.
Kelly's female characters are the ones who truly shine. Chet and Virgil are a bit more one-note, a bit more standard in their development, with Virgil as the shy every kid and Chet just as you might expect a bully to be characterized in middle grade literature. Valencia is perhaps the most intriguing character in the story. In making her stubborn, a person who could care less what others think about her, Kelly avoids playing the self-pity game, a la Auggie in Wonder, that I thought she would. The back and forth between Kaori and her sister Gen is often hilarious, especially as those who hold different philosophies on life. Gen is one of the funniest characters in the book, with Virgil's grandmother Lola being the other. In a moment when Virgil tells Lola that the last day of school was the worst because the school served green beans for lunch, in order to avoid admitting it was because of his failure with Valencia, Lola replies that he needs a more interesting life. Lola is also the source of much of the Filipino folk tales that deepen the text, and these are also conveyed with humor and wit.
Much of the story is told either through dialogue or through character thoughts or actions, giving this an active, fast-paced feeling even though it lacks exciting action. The strength of the story lies largely on the humorous dialogue and inner monologues of characters. I do wonder at some of Kelly's stylistic choices, such as her decision to write Valencia in the first person point of view using present tense voice while the rest are written in third person using past tense voice. It seems to signal that Valencia is the main character, but much of the major conflict revolves around Virgil. The decision also doesn't make sense considering that Kelly provides equal access to all four characters' heads, whether first person or third. Maybe I'm missing something.
I see there is some controversy with the choice for this as the Newbery winner (and there is always bound to be some controversy), but I don't have a problem with it. It's not a perfect story, but it is a delightful novel that has given me something to ponder over, and I think readers of all ages can connect with the characters as fully-realized, fleshed out people. This allows readers to develop empathy for others and maybe be less frightened to talk to someone with hearing aids or to just speak up in general because of shyness. By the end it may be in question whether the events in the story were influenced by fate, but it's a fact that the characters grew because of what they went through.
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