46 pages • 1 hour read
Natalie LloydThe Key to Extraordinary
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2016A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Character Analysis
Emma Pearl Casey
Although Emma, the protagonist and narrator, struggles with grief and being bullied, she is kind and prioritizes her loved ones. One morning, Topher perceives Emma’s sadness, and she responds, “It’s the Big Empty […] I woke up thinking that I wanted to talk to Mama. And then I realized I couldn’t talk to her […] It aches, is all. Missing her is a terrible ache” (7). After her mother’s death, Emma feels an emptiness so significant that she names it the “Big Empty.” The ache is immense grief at no longer having a mother to talk to, and although time has passed, this feeling persists. Additionally, Emma struggles with being bullied. Born with a cleft lip, she has undergone multiple surgeries, but that has not stopped mean girls, like Beretta Simpson, from mocking her. Even though Emma’s scar is barely noticeable, she admits, “You’d think it wouldn’t hurt anymore, but it hurts just as much. And it hurts because I know she’ll never stop” (159-60). Just like her grief, no matter how much time passes and no matter how many corrective surgeries she has, Emma still feels the pain of being targeted by bullies. Despite this, Emma is compassionate toward others. From messages of love to the deceased in the graveyard to encouragement for Waverly to believe in love, Emma always has others’ best interests in mind. This is highlighted when she chooses to rescue Earl over keeping the treasure. When she makes this decision, she acknowledges the importance of “love above everything; that’s the choice [her mother] would have made” (189). When faced with stopping the greedy Warren Steele, Emma recognizes that even though saving the cafe is important, looking out for loved ones is a higher priority, as Earl’s life is at stake. She values love the most, something her mother instilled in her.
Initially, even with so much love, Emma questions her own abilities and self-worth. After discovering Lily Kate Abernathy’s grave in the Thicket but no treasure, Emma is crestfallen, calling herself a “klutztastical mess” and possibly one of “her family’s first failure[s]” (106-07). With each new obstacle, Emma’s confidence in herself falters. Doubt surfaces in other ways too, like when Beretta finds Emma and her friends in the Wailing Woods and mocks Emma. The girl’s first reaction is to cover her mouth, but Cody Belle encourages her not to hide her scar. This physical movement is a manifestation of Emma’s self-doubt, as she thinks that she must hide part of herself.
Over time, however, Emma learns that she is capable and worthy of being called a Wildflower. By staying connected to her family—through the Book of Days and memories of her mother—Emma learns lessons, practices courage, and acquires belief in herself. The day when Warren surveys the land, she draws on Daphne Prescott’s experience protesting for women’s rights to help her speak out against the developer. Furthermore, Emma repeatedly reminds herself of her mother’s advice: “Fear is just a flashlight that helps you find your courage” (51). Recalling her mother’s words and the courageous exploits of her ancestors, Emma pushes herself to be resilient. In the end, even though there is no treasure, she saves her home. When she writes her entry in the Book of Days, she reflects, “I know my destiny is to bring people together. To help lonely hearts find a place where they belong. Believe me, future Wildflower: You are living an extraordinary life, day by day by glorious day. Never doubt your starry aim” (226). When she urges future Wildflowers to never doubt themselves or their destiny, she proclaims not only their worth but also her own. She understands that to love and bring people together is extraordinary. This realization is a testament to Emma’s growth and self-acceptance.
Cody Belle Chitwood
Cody Belle, Emma’s sidekick and best friend, is kind, honest, and unafraid to be herself. When Emma first describes Club Pancake—Granny Blue, Uncle Periwinkle, and Aunt Greta—a group that supports each other, she likens it to her relationship with Cody Belle. Emma says, “Cody Belle is like that for me; she’s a pancake flip of goodness even on a crummy day” (39). Using a metaphor to compare her friend to a pancake flip of goodness, Emma implies that her friend is a bright spot in her life; just like a delicious pancake, Cody Belle can improve even the worst day. On top of this positive impact, Emma’s best friend is also honest and straightforward. When they see Earl Chance for the first time, Cody Belle declares that he is cute. This embarrasses Emma, who thinks, “She just flat-out says what she thinks and feels. I don’t think I’ll ever be that brave” (65). Emma equates Cody Belle’s blunt honesty to bravery because she does not worry about what others think. This is evident later when she does not back down to Beretta Simpson’s bullying. Cody Belle stays true to herself no matter the circumstances.
Additionally, Cody Belle is so loyal to loved ones that she is willing to face her fears to help them. Despite her terror, she agrees to search the Thicket for treasure. She admits that she is accompanying Emma “only because [she] do[es]n’t want the Conductor to drag [her] away into the caves or lead [her] to certain death […] [she]’d never forgive [her]self if that happened” (91). The “only” reason she goes on this quest is because she wants to protect her friend. Her loyalty to Emma supersedes her fear of the cemetery. Cody Belle’s propensity to stand by her best friend is evident when they trek through the Wailing Woods to find Lily Kate Abernathy’s chimney and when they race through a raging storm to save Earl from drowning beneath his house. Through thick and thin, Cody Belle stays by Emma’s side.
Earl Chance
Despite enduring trauma, Earl proves to be a loyal and kind friend. When Emma first meets him, he does not speak. The previous spring, he survived a tornado, so “people call him the miracle kid. His home, all the homes around him, even a barn and some trees, were flattened by the tornado. But Earl survived. He hasn’t talked since” (69). Enduring the storm alone while destruction surrounded him left Earl traumatized. His fear of storms is evident when he screams the night when the wind opens the cafe doors and when he hides beneath his house during the thunderstorm. Slowly, though, Earl comes out of his shell and proves to be a good and loyal friend. Not long after meeting him, Emma acknowledges, “I already had a feeling Earl was a rare friend, the kind of person who makes a place seem more pleasant, more calm, just because he’s there” (133). After only knowing him for a short time, Emma trusts Earl and feels at ease in his presence, suggesting his earnest and sincere demeanor. When they do not find treasure buried beneath the Abernathy chimney, he leans in to show his support. Moment later, when Beretta Simpson mocks Emma, Earl proves his strength and loyalty: “He didn’t speak. But he stepped up beside [Emma], until his arm was touching [hers]. And he stared at Beretta Simpson as if she didn’t scare him at all” (156). Earl’s outward show of allegiance to Emma proves his loyalty as a friend, as it is often easier to yield to a bully than it is to stand up against them. By staring Beretta down, he makes his position as Emma’s friend clear. Later, he saves her from drowning beneath the porch and convinces Warren Steele that Emma must be the one to open the trunk. Through his actions and eventually through his words, Earl proves to be a genuine friend.
Granny Blue
Granny Blue, Emma and Topher’s grandmother, loves fiercely and defies stereotypes of women her age, adding to the legacy of strong women in the family. Although it’s an unpopular idea, she considers selling the cafe and cemetery to make sure that her grandkids have a secure future, showing that she is willing to make sacrifices to provide for her family; like her deceased daughter, Blue puts love above all else. Despite this love, she is tough and unlike the stereotypical image of a grandmother. Emma notes that “she’s taller than most men [she’s] seen. Years ago, long before [Emma] came into the world, Blue was a boxer” (37). Her strength counters the image of a frail, elderly woman, evident in both her height and her past exploits as a boxer. By comparing her to men and noting that she is taller than most men, Emma underscores just how much her grandmother stands out. Furthermore, the woman “has flowers tattooed on both arms all the way from her shoulders to her wrists,” but despite this tough façade, “she loves harder and truer than any person [Emma has] ever known” (38). Blue exudes strength and love, demonstrating that the two do not have to be mutually exclusive. Her true love is shown in her willingness to sell the land. She does not take the decision lightly but is willing to do whatever is necessary to secure a good future for Emma and Topher. In fact, Emma declares that Blue has fulfilled her destiny as a fighter because she takes on so many battles for her family. Furthermore, she is a member of Club Pancake, which also includes Uncle Peri and Aunt Greta, and they relentlessly buoy each other through life’s challenges. Ultimately, Blue is a fierce and loving defender of family and friends.
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By Natalie Lloyd
