There are ten characters in Hidden by These Walls who all play important roles in the story. Each has a unique personality, and as such, each has different responses to the situations in the story. I’ve seen some trends on social media where authors describe their characters as foods, depending on the personality traits they possess. I’m taking it two steps further by also describing them as movie characters (from 1980s or older movies) and countries of the world.
Libby
Libby is the main character in Hidden by These Walls, the one whose point of view we see. She is the older sister, the one who comforts and protects Anna and Edie. She is steady, reliable, and hard-working. Some foods to describe her would be roast beef and mashed potatoes or chicken noodle soup. Movie characters who possess the same qualities as Libby include Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid, Fezzik in Princess Bride and Cinderella. A country that resembles Libby’s personality is Switzerland, a safe, high work ethic environment that values hard work.
Jake
Jake is Libby’s best friend, the one who knows her struggles and supports her through it all. Jake is an all-American 1980s teen who plays baseball. He could be described as loyal, stalwart and a planner. Foods to describe him would be hamburgers, fries, and apple pie. Jake could be compared to Goose in Top Gun, Alfred in Batman and Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (minus the let’s just skip school attitude). A country that is comparable to Jake is Japan where they value loyalty in community and work, they are reliable and persevering.
Anna
Anna is Libby’s sweet and loving ten-year-old sister. She is quiet and obedient, and she tries to be brave, but deep down is very afraid. She could be compared to warm cinnamon rolls, banana bread, and hot chocolate. Her movie character resemblances would be Mary Poppins, Piglet in Winnie-the-Pooh and Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Anna fits the personality of Canada, where the people are polite, and they are known for apologizing often and following the rules.
Edie
Edie is the youngest of the three sisters, at eight years old. Her personality is completely different from that of her sisters. She is a little spitfire, unafraid to challenge anyone. She’s sassy, messy, and vibrant. As foods, Edie could be described as chips and salsa, sloppy joes, and pineapple. Movie characters who are similar to Edie are Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird and all the kids in The Goonies. Edie. as a country, fits the personality of Colombia, where the urban environment is chaotic, disorderly, and loud, but the culture is spirited and passionate.
Donna
Donna is the mother of Libby, Anna, and Edie. She is a single mom with an addiction and a temper. Her character could be described as bitter, angry, and mean. Some of the foods that compare to Donna aren’t as common as some of the foods to describe our other characters. Foods like arugula, bleu cheese, and spicy chili don’t sound quite as good to me either. Donna can be compared to Johnny in Karate Kid, Beth in Ordinary People, and Jake in Raging Bull. Several countries could be described as angry, but I won’t name them here. I’m sure you can guess some to fit Donna.
Holly
Holly is Libby’s friend from school. She is a dancer who is popular and pretty. She is trustworthy and supportive and is as beautiful on the inside as on the outside. Foods that fit Holly’s personality are grilled cheese sandwiches, sweet potatoes, and watermelon. She is similar to Mary McFly in Back to the Future, Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, and Buttercup in Princess Bride. The country that compares best to Holly is Norway, where the beauty of the Northern Lights, mountains, and fjords is well-known and where the society is supportive and highly trusted.
Nicole
Nicole is a character who tends to be outshone by her best friend, Holly, and is always the last to know about Libby’s life, yet she remains steadfastly by their sides. She is positive, energetic, fashion conscious, and owner of lots of hair scrunchies. Nicole could be a lemon, with its zingy flavor, a fruit smoothie for its energy-giving qualities, or a chocolate chip cookie, because she’s so sweet. Nicole’s movie character twins are Jordan in Real Genius, Andie in Pretty in Pink, and Doc Brown in Back to the Future. Brazil’s energetic, friendly vibe fits Nicole’s personality nicely.
Nolan
Nolan is Libby’s stepfather, and the father of Anna and Edie. He lives in another state, so he isn’t privy to what’s going on behind the walls of his girls’ home. He is a big teddy bear, devoted and strong. You’d probably agree that honey buns and waffles describe him perfectly. He is similar to Jack in Mr. Mom, Inigo Montoya in Princess Bride and George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life. If you visit New Zealand, you may find the people there are friendly, strong and resilient, just like Nolan.
Jerri
Who wouldn’t want a boss like Jerri? She Is optimistic, lighthearted, and accessible for Libby. Her concern for Libby is admirable. She’s a softie, like cooked spaghetti. She also is like popcorn, because it’s a happy snack. Jerri pays attention to Libby’s words and her actions, concluding more than Libby intends, but because of that, she is like a pomegranate, which requires attention and focus to eat. Uncle Buck, Chris in Stand by Me, and PollyAnna all can represent Jerri. The country that best describes her is Denmark, which is famous for the concept of hygge (cozy contentment).
Roy
Roy is introduced later in the book, but without him, there is no unhinged ending. He is greasy, arrogant, and immature, resembling Iceman in Top Gun, Biff in Back to the Future, and Greasy in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? He is processed cheese, green bananas and artichokes all rolled in one. Unfortunately, the best country to describe Roy is the United States of America (gasp!). Americans are often seen as arrogant with a superior attitude, by other countries.
Conclusion
There you have it: a menu, movie characters to check out, and a world map to describe the characters in Hidden by These Walls. I hope these characters interest you, and that you’ll be looking for Hidden by These Walls for your next read. Oh, and writers, try this with your characters! It’s a fun exploration of their personalities and certainly a helpful way to describe them!