The Name of This Book Is Secret - Characters

Characters

Cassandra – Cassandra, or Cass, for short, is the female 11 year old protagonist of the story. She is always prepared for any disasters that may occur, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, and carries with her a backpack filled with survival gear. Thus, the narrator frequently refers to her as a survivalist. Although she prefers to think of herself as a loner, she allows Max-Ernest to collaborate with her on her investigation of Pietro's death. She is also noted to have pointy ears, and refers to her mother's old high school history teacher and his friend as her grandfathers. She also doesn't know who her father is.

Max-Ernest – Max-Ernest is the 11 year old male protagonist of the story. His parents became divorced shortly after his birth because they couldn't decide whether to name him Max or Ernest. Despite this, they still live in the same house, which they have divided into two sections. Each parent cut their house in two, literally, and combined the two by lifting his father's side of the house and puts it next to Max-Ernest's mother's side (saying that while they dislike each other, they don't want to rob their child of a childhood shared with both his parents, and they don't cross into each other's side of the house or talk to each other. They act like the other isn't there). Max-Ernest has a talking disorder that has caused his parents to take him to many psychiatrists and doctors. Instead of inhibiting his speech, it makes him talk incessantly until someone stops him. As he has so many conditions, his parents have a problem of thinking that he has every single condition that exists. Cass is his only friend. He is the only one that can understand Benjamin Blake. His name is a play on Max Ernst, an artist influenced by Hieronymous Bosch.

Ms. Mauvais and Dr. L – Ms. Mauvais and Dr. L are the two antagonists of the story. They seem to know the cause of Pietro's death and are desperate to find his journal, which contains information about the secret the series revolves around. Once they find out Cass and Max-Ernest have his notebook, they go to many lengths to take it from them. It is also revealed during the story that Dr. L is Pietro's brother after Cass discovers a birthmark of a crescent moon on the back of his neck that is mentioned earlier in the book. They own a spa called "The Midnight Sun," which is run by alchemists whose mission is to search for secrets to everlasting life. As hinted several times in the book, Ms. Mauvais and Dr. L are much older than they look; they wear long gloves to hide their wrinkled skin that is only on their hands. They are described as dangerously beautiful. Dr. L. is tall, and he has silver hair that does not get messed, tanned skin, and the whitest teeth Cass had ever seen. He also has an indistinguishable accent. Ms. Mauvais has big eyes, a very tiny waist, covered in gold jewelry, and stylish, beautiful blonde hair. Her voice was described as icy.

Pietro Bergamo – Pietro Bergamo is the synesthetic magician, who was given The Symphony of Smells, a box containing vials of different fragrances, from Ms. Mauvais many years ago. He also wrote the notebook that Cass and Max-Ernest found, telling them about how he joined the circus. He had a twin brother, named Luciano (who also has synesthesia), who was kidnapped by Ms. Mauvais, and is now her partner, under the alias Dr. L. Although the narrator often refers to him as "dead," Cass and Max-Ernest receive a note from him in code which they decipher. Pietro's initials are used at the end of the note.

Benjamin Blake – Benjamin is a boy that goes to Cass and Max-Ernest's school. He won a prize for an art show, since he has synesthesia, or the confusion of the senses, and painted in an attractive yet unique way. Halfway through the book, he was kidnapped by Dr. L. and Ms. Mauvais, as they thought his brain would help them find out information about the Secret. He reappears later in This Isn't What It Looks Like, and goes through an immense change in character as he attended a private school run by the Midnight Sun. He looks pale, and he mumbles when he talks.

Grandpa Larry and Grandpa Wayne – Grandpa Larry and Grandpa Wayne are Cass's grandfathers. They are not her biological grandfathers, but love Cass just the same, as her real grandparents are "not around." Grandpa Larry was Cass's mother's history teacher when she was in high school; as for Wayne, it is not explained what relation he has with Cass's family. Grandpa Larry and Grandpa Wayne also own a shop established in an old, abandoned fire station that Gloria Fortune visits to drop off junk from Pietro's house, including the Symphony of Smells.

Owen – Owen is a butler whom Cass meets soon after arriving at The Midnight Sun Spa. When they first meet, he has a strong stutter and appears to be very shy but friendly. Cass and Max-Ernest soon discover that Owen is actually a spy of sorts. He helps them escape the Midnight Sun with Benjamin Blake and takes them to Cass' grandfathers. Owen's most notable characteristic is that he imitates other accents, instead of speaking normally. In the first book, Owen speaks with a slight stutter, a nautical surfers' accent and an Irish brogue. Like other staff of the Mindnight Sun, he looks beautiful with tanned skin and some freckles, but he does not have the wrinkled arms and hands because he really is young.

Amber – Amber is one of Cass' classmates and described as the nicest girl in school (and the third most popular). She is obsessed with two heiresses called the Skelton sisters, thus she uses their company's lip balm called "Smoochies." Every week, she uses a new Smoochie, and gives her old one to her friends and schoolmates. Cass often receives one of her Smoochies, but she assumes it's only because she feels sorry for her. Amber has a friend named Veronica, who is the second most popular, but not very nice.

Gloria Fortune – Gloria is a probate specialist, or a "real estate agent for the dead." When people die she clears out their homes and tries to sell their house. She loves to gossip, and was a guest at the Midnight Sun although she no longer remembers it and thinks it was a dream.

Pseudonymous Bosch – Pseudonymous Bosch is the author narrator of the story. He gives little information on himself, however by indirect observation, we can see he has trouble keeping on subject, and is addicted to chocolate.

Timothy – LRMS student