Spectacular Things Character Analysis

Mia

Mia is Cricket’s older sister, Liz’s daughter, Lenora’s granddaughter, Betty’s mother, and Oliver’s wife. When she is a child, Mia takes on a supportive role in her family and often… read analysis of Mia

Cricket

Cricket is Mia’s younger sister, Liz’s daughter, Lenora’s granddaughter, and Betty’s aunt. She also marries Sloane later in the novel. The novel portrays Cricket as a preternaturally talented soccer player who… read analysis of Cricket

Liz

Liz is Mia and Cricket’s mother, Betty’s grandmother, and Lenora’s daughter. She also, at one point, had a romantic relationship with Q, who is Mia and Cricket’s father. The novel… read analysis of Liz

Coach/Oliver

Oliver is initially the Coach for the elite soccer team based in Portland, Maine that Cricket plays on through high school. Later, Oliver and Mia begin a romantic relationship. Mia and Oliver then marry and… read analysis of Coach/Oliver

Sloane

Sloane is one of Cricket’s closest friends, and Sloane and Cricket marry at the end of the novel. Sloane and Cricket are two of the best goalkeepers in the U.S., and they share a… read analysis of Sloane

Mia’s Father/Q

Q is Mia and Cricket’s father and was involved in a romantic relationship with Liz. Liz moves with Mia to Maine without Q, but he comes to Maine and briefly moves in with Mia… read analysis of Mia’s Father/Q

Dr. Green

Dr. Green is a local dentist who gives Liz a job at the front desk in her office shortly after Liz moves to Victory, Maine. After Liz dies, Dr. Green helps plan Liz’s funeral, underlining… read analysis of Dr. Green

Lucia

Lucia is the owner of the Italian restaurant Primo Bistro. Liz takes on a second job to pay for the costs associated with Cricket’s soccer ambitions. After Liz dies, the owner of the… read analysis of Lucia

Lenora

Lenora is Liz’s mother and Cricket and Mia’s grandmother. While growing up, Liz feels like Lenora has little interest in being her mother. Liz becomes estranged from her father and Lenora when she moves… read analysis of Lenora

Minor Characters

Yasmine

Yasmine is Cricket’s girlfriend when Cricket is at UCLA, and their relationship is Cricket’s first romantic relationship. The two break up after Cricket is drafted by a professional soccer team in Chicago, and the long distance puts a strain on their relationship.

Teague

Teague is the head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team, which competes in events like the Olympics and the World Cup. Both Sloane and Cricket play on that team.

Betty

Betty is Mia and Oliver’s daughter.

Ben

Ben is Mia’s boyfriend during her first year at Yale. The two fall out of contact shortly after Mia stops going to Yale and moves home to become Cricket’s guardian following Liz’s death.

Spectacular Things Characters

Mia