Everything, Everything Character Analysis

Madeline “Maddy” Whittier

A precocious 18-year-old with SCID, a severe autoimmune disease that means she cannot leave the house without risking her life. Because of her illness, Maddy has grown up extremely sheltered: the only people she sees… read analysis of Madeline “Maddy” Whittier

Olly

Maddy’s love interest. He’s a teenager who moves into the house next door with his family. Olly wears only black clothes and is interested in parkour, a type of street gymnastics, which means that… read analysis of Olly

Mom/Dr. Pauline Whittier

Maddy’s mom, a third-generation Japanese doctor and a single mother. Mom and Maddy have an extremely close relationship, as Mom has dedicated her entire life to caring for Maddy. After losing Maddy’s dad and… read analysis of Mom/Dr. Pauline Whittier

Carla

Maddy’s beloved nurse; Carla’s job is to spend eight hours per day monitoring Maddy’s vital signs. Carla has a 17-year-old daughter named Rosa, whom she dotes on and loves dearly. She’s been caring… read analysis of Carla

Olly’s Dad

An abusive person both physically and verbally. To the best of Olly’s knowledge, his dad first became violent about a decade before the novel begins, after he was fired from his job in New… read analysis of Olly’s Dad

Zach

A good friend of Olly’s whom Olly and Maddy meet up with in Maui. Zach is gay, and wants to be a rock star, neither of which he feels he can tell his parents… read analysis of Zach

Mr. Waterman

Maddy’s architecture tutor. He’s Maddy’s favorite tutor, the only one whom Mom has ever allowed to enter the house and tutor Maddy in person. Mr. Waterman delights in Maddy’s work and encourages her to… read analysis of Mr. Waterman

Olly’s Mom

Olly and Kara’s mom is a stay-at-home parent. She spends her days gardening and tries to convince her children to do their chores so that they don’t make Olly’s dad angry, but she nevertheless… read analysis of Olly’s Mom

Nurse Janet Pritchert

The nurse Mom hires to replace Carla. Maddy recognizes that Nurse Janet is authoritative and delights in being more of an authority and less of a friend, as Carla was. She’s a fan of… read analysis of Nurse Janet Pritchert

Minor Characters

Rosa

Carla’s 17-year-old daughter. Rosa never appears in the novel herself, but Carla mentions Rosa often and Maddy understands that Carla loves Rosa and wants her to have anything that will make her happy.

Dr. Chase

The SCID expert whom Maddy sees to confirm that she doesn’t actually have SCID. He helps her develop a plan for introducing her underdeveloped immune system to the world, though Maddy often doesn’t take his advice.

Kara

Olly’s sister. She smokes several cigarettes per day to cope with Olly’s dad’s abuse and, like the rest of her family, Maddy observes that she tiptoes around her dad but still cannot escape his wrath.

Dr. Melissa Francis

The doctor who attends to Maddy in Maui. She’s the one to identify that Maddy doesn’t actually have SCID and encourages Maddy to seek a second opinion.

Maddy’s Dad

Maddy’s father; a black man who gave Maddy her curls. He was Mom’s soul mate, but died tragically in an accident along with Maddy’s brother when Maddy was an infant.

Maddy’s Brother

Maddy’s older brother. He died in a car accident with their dad when Maddy was an infant.