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Character Analysis
Rowan Roth
Rowan Roth, the story’s protagonist, is a Mexican Jewish girl living in Seattle, Washington. Rowan is finishing her senior year of high school, where she has spent four years heavily involved in her school community. A high achiever, Rowan has an impressive resume: She is copresident of her school’s student council, a straight-A student, and the recipient of many academic accolades. The novel’s thematic interrogation of The Pressure to Live Up to Others’ Expectations is grounded in her characterization and story arc. Since her freshman year, Rowan has competed head-to-head with her classmate Neil McNair, another decorated student and active community member. Her resolve to beat Neil at every opportunity drives her to work harder and to push herself to be the best in all aspects of academics and extracurriculars. When her high school career comes to a close, Rowan is determined to beat Neil for the spot of valedictorian, a victory she has been dreaming of for years. When she is beaten by Neil and named salutatorian instead, Rowan is disappointed, defeated, and feels like a failure.
Determined to finish high school on her own terms, Rowan sees Howl—an elaborate scavenger hunt and senior tradition—as her final opportunity to beat Neil. Desperate to keep him in the game to defeat him herself, Rowan grows closer to Neil as the day goes on. Howl allows Rowan the opportunity to reflect upon her life so far. In particular, growing closer to Neil and realizing that she is actually in love with him marks a major turning point, as the romance she has yearned for was right in front of her (in the form of her long-time nemesis) all along.
Rowan’s character arc also embodies The Difficult Experience of Growing Up and Embracing Change. As the daughter of two writers, Rowan has writerly aspirations of being a romance novelist. She has spent her life feeling ashamed of her passion for the romance genre, but she slowly gains the confidence to share this passion with others, partly because of her growing relationship with Neil, who supports her writing. Rowan sharing her writing with others for the first time and telling her parents that she is writing a romance novel demonstrates her growth and eagerness to push herself outside her comfort zone. Though she is apprehensive about leaving her high school life behind for a new and unknown future, Rowan realizes that change is a natural and necessary part of growing up.
Neil McNair
Neil McNair, Rowan’s nemesis turned love interest, is a high school senior living in Seattle, Washington, with his mother and siblings. Neil is a high-achieving student and is named valedictorian at the beginning of the novel. For four years, Neil has maintained a rivalry with the salutatorian and protagonist, Rowan Roth, with whom he competes at every opportunity. Every morning, Neil texts Rowan before school starts, effectively taunting her about their ongoing competition. On the last day of school, he teases her about the upcoming valedictorian news, saying she will likely need to bring tissues to soak up her tears when he is awarded the spot.
Despite their rivalry, it is clear from early in the novel that Neil cares about Rowan. When she reveals to him that she was late for the last day of high school due to a car accident, he shows genuine concern. Similarly, when he asks to sign her yearbook in earnest and is rejected, he is visibly hurt. These reactions suggest that his previous taunting was likely a form of playful flirtation.
When they team up to take out their classmates and eventually go head-to-head in the Howl scavenger hunt, Neil opens up to Rowan in ways he never has before—to anyone. He reveals that he comes from a broken family and that his imprisoned father is abusive, a confession that makes him sob in front of Rowan. Neil’s ability to be vulnerable is a testament to his character and the importance of Letting Go of Fear and Embracing the Unknown: He is authentic and unafraid to express himself, regardless of how others may react to or perceive him. This quality is perhaps best exemplified by his love confession to Rowan, which he shares in a message in her yearbook. The message is clear, heartfelt, and unashamed, demonstrating how open and sensitive he is.
Kirby
Kirby lives in Seattle and attends Westview High School. She is best friends with Rowan and dates Mara, another senior at school. Kirby is outgoing, outspoken, and unafraid to say what is on her mind. Having met Rowan before Mara, Kirby has a close relationship with Rowan. Since dating Mara, however, and particularly throughout senior year, Kirby spends most of her time with Mara. She and Mara will attend the University of Washington together in the fall.
Mara
Mara lives in Seattle and attends Westview High School. Mara is best friends with Rowan and dates Kirby, another senior at school. Mara is introverted and quiet, rarely the first person to initiate a conversation. Mara dreams of becoming a professional dancer and plans to attend the University of Washington with Kirby in the fall.
Rowan’s Parents (Jared Roth and Ilana Garcia Roth)
Rowan’s parents are the renowned author/illustrator pair Jared and Ilana Roth. They are best known for their graphic novel series, Excavated, which follows the adventures of a young girl named Riley. Rowan’s parents are loving and supportive of their only child. When Rowan reveals that she dreams of becoming a romance novelist, they express pride in her for being ambitious and vulnerable enough to share with them, as they are not fans of the genre.
Spencer Sugiyama
Spencer Sugiyama is a senior at Westview High School. Spencer and Rowan briefly dated as juniors. While dating her, Spencer was largely withdrawn and unwilling to develop a deep emotional bond. When they break up, he insinuates that Rowan had unrealistic expectations that he had no interest in meeting. Rowan rear-ends Spencer’s car on the last day of school, which leads to an uncomfortable interaction between the two.
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