New Boy

Osei Kokote, New Boy’s protagonist, is a Ghanaian diplomat’s son who has just moved to Washington, D.C. In the novel’s retelling of Shakespeare’s Othello, Osei corresponds to Othello himself. Osei, now a sixth… read analysis of Osei

Dee Benedetti is an Italian American sixth grader who has lived in Washington, D.C. her entire life. In the novel’s retelling of Shakespeare’s Othello, Dee corresponds to Desdemona, Othello’s wife. Though Dee has strict… read analysis of Dee

Manipulative bully Ian, the “most calculating” sixth grader at his elementary school, is New Boy’s version of the villain Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello. Due in part to an abusive father, a lonely home… read analysis of Ian

Best friend to Dee, decent friend to Blanca, and briefly girlfriend to Ian, Mimi is a sensitive, “weird” sixth grader who suffers from severe headaches and “premonitions.” In the novel’s retelling of… read analysis of Mimi

Blanca attends school with the other main child characters. She is friends with Dee and Mimi, and Popular Casper is her on-again, off-again boyfriend. Although Blanca is a pretty, vivacious sixth grader and the… read analysis of Blanca

Old friends with Dee and on-again, off-again boyfriend to Blanca, Casper is the most popular sixth-grade boy at the overwhelmingly White school to which Osei transfers. In the novel’s reimagining of Shakespeare’s Othello… read analysis of Casper

Along with Mr. Brabant, Miss Lode is a sixth-grade teacher at the school that Osei, Dee, Ian, Mimi, and the other child main characters attend. In the novel’s retelling of… read analysis of Miss Lode

Rod, a racist and foul-mouthed sixth grader, is manipulative bully Ian’s “sidekick” and the New Boy’s analogue to Roderigo in Shakespeare’s Othello. Though Rod considers Ian his “best friend,” Ian looks down… read analysis of Rod

Sisi, Osei’s older sister, is a tenth grader at the time of the novel’s main action. Years before, when Sisi and Osei both attend elementary school, they are close: not only does Sisi defend… read analysis of Sisi

Mrs. Duke is the principal of the overwhelmingly White Washington, D.C. elementary school that Osei, Dee, Ian, and the other main child characters of the novel attend. In the novel’s reimagining of… read analysis of Mrs. Duke