Shipwreck

Will Greenfield is a sandy-haired, freckled teenager with round cheeks, whose slightly younger sister, Lyssa, is also on The Phoenix. They have been sent on the CNC program because of their explosive arguments that escalate into physical fights, the last of which landed them both in hospital with a police report. Will’s character has low self-esteem, and his gaze is usually focused down. Will is constantly comparing himself to his sister, who he says is smarter, better looking, and more popular than him. He is deeply resentful of his sister’s achievements and sees negativity in everything she does. For example, when Will sees Lyssa talking to Charla, he gets angry, and thinks, “Lyssa was making friends here like she did everywhere. By the time this trip was over, she was going to be voted miss congeniality on this tub […]. It was so unfair” (23). Will blames Lyssa for the fight that landed them on the CNC course, even though he was equally involved. Will is constantly mumbling that he should have been an only child. Will complains about Lyssa fixing the engine, mocking her ability based on one science project, but when Luke expresses doubt in her ability Will instantly jumps to her defense. Will’s feelings toward Lyssa are complicated—pride, love, and resentment all rolled together. When it appears that Lyssa has drowned, Will is unable to process the reality of losing her. He is wracked with guilt over the way he spoke to her and for wishing to be an only child, so he convinces himself that Lyssa has been rescued.

Lyssa Greenfield is Will’s slightly younger sister. Unlike Will, Lyssa is skinny, with an angular face and a friendly demeanor. She has bright eyes and shows an interest in everything going on around her. Lyssa tries to enjoy herself on board The Phoenix, making friends with the captain and embracing the experience, even managing to smile through the seasickness. Lyssa is sarcastic toward Will, but she seems to be unaware of his deep resentment toward her. She has a short fuse with Will, and her hot temper is displayed early on when she takes a “home-run swing” (10) at her brother’s head with a mop during an insignificant argument about cleaning the deck. Lyssa is academically gifted and knows more about engineering than the other kids, so she is tasked with repairing the schooner’s flooded engine. She does this wearing a snorkel mask, highlighting her flexible, trouble-shooting nature. Lyssa does not reappear following the explosion on The Phoenix, leading Will and the other survivors to conclude that she has drowned. Will’s reaction at losing his sister indicates a deep sibling love that exists between them.

Charla is around 13 years old. She is “tall and rail-thin and moves like a cat” (14), has plain hair, and wears simple clothes. Charla is world-class in multiple sports, including swimming, diving, gymnastics, and track and field. She was on all her school’s sport’s teams and on track to be on an Olympic team. However, Charla does not come from a wealthy background, and her overbearing father saw Charla’s talents as a way out of poverty. Rather than enjoying her sports, Charla burned out. One day, she became physically unable to move her limbs. Because of her experience, Charla resents the other kids, who she assumes are richer than her. A medical professional signed Charla up for the CNC course to help her regain her confidence away from her father. On The Phoenix, Charla quietly does the chores and starts to enjoy the ocean—swimming and diving off the gunwale. When the others praise her aquatic abilities, Charla retreats into her shell, still unable to dissociate praise from pressure. As the trip progresses, Charla warms to the other kids but remains quiet and observant. She is a good judge of character and notes that while Captain Cascadden is a nice man, he seems oblivious to the fact that his first mate, Radford, is a bully. Following the explosion, Charla is terrified, but she dives off the burning schooner, swims fast to Luke’s raft, and does her share of rotations in “shark-bait” position. Charla is a solid supporting character, working to overcome her traumatic background by being an integral part of the surviving crew.

Ian is around 11 years old, which makes him the youngest member of the crew. He is small and has sad eyes. His obsession with TV shows and the Internet is clear from the moment his character is introduced. Ian is timid, homesick, and described by Luke as a “nice kid” who doesn’t deserve to be on The Phoenix. Ian has been sent on the CNC course by his parents for watching too much TV. Before the schooner sinks, Ian is quiet and avoids interacting with the others. When Lyssa encourages Ian to join in free swim time, Ian averts his eyes and goes back to their sleeping quarters. However, on Luke’s makeshift raft, Ian’s character takes center stage, sharing survival tips and facts about sharks and survival gleaned from his years of watching National Geographic shows. Ian finally feels appreciated. When Ian insists on keeping a sail and rubber hat, he gets praise from Will and the others for his life-saving choices. Ian’s sensitive and deeply insecure personality reappears when Luke eventually tells him to “close up the Encyclopedia Boronica”—Ian immediately flushes bright red and sadly says, “I talk too much […] I’m boring” (118). Despite being young and insecure, Ian is mature for his age and is accepted as an integral part of the crew by the others.

J.J. Lane is the 14-year-old son of Jonathan Lane, a famous movie star. J.J. is spoiled and arrogant. He flaunts his wealth, bragging about his priceless sunglasses and team of lawyers. J.J. arrives in Guam on a private jet with a personal assistant who summarizes the litany offenses that J.J. committed and got away with. He has been sent on the CNC course to “get out of town for a while” (17). J.J.’s obnoxious personality is highlighted when he tries to persuade the captain to send him home. J.J.’s attitude does not improve during the trip; he asks the girls for foot massages and whines about everything. His inflated ego and complete disregard for authority leads him to take matters (which were under control) into his own hands and attempt to raise the sail during the gale. J.J.’s actions trigger the events that lead to the captain’s death and the destruction of The Phoenix, but he never fully takes responsibility. Instead, he insists that it is all a show set up by CNC to test them. However, there is a brief insight into J.J.’s genuine feelings when he reads his file and says to Charla, “My own father sends me halfway around the world just so he won't have to look at me” (86), hinting at insecurity and that his obnoxious behavior is an attempt to get his father’s attention.

Mr. Radford, the antagonist, is the first mate on The Phoenix, and, besides the captain, the only other adult on the schooner. He is a seasoned sailor who has a close relationship with the captain but despises the young crew. Radford is a cruel and heartless man who has no interest in forming connections with other people. Radford is so mean to the crew that they nickname him “Rat-face.” Radford takes great delight in making the kids uncomfortable, shown by the greasy meals he makes them eat when they are seasick. Luke notes that, “Rat-face was so nasty that it took everybody’s combined misery to put him in a good mood” (41). Radford’s cruelty and selfishness allow him to self-justify leaving the kids on a sinking boat to save himself. When Radford sees the equipment on the lifeboat, he easily makes the decision to abandon the others, and the only sign of guilt could be interpreted by the way his demeanor changes, becoming “sullen and silent” (72). However, his decision to leave offers little room for true guilt.