Romiette and Julio

Sharon M. Draper

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1999

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-13

Chapters 14-28

Chapters 29-39

Chapters 40-52

Chapters 53-62

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

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Discussion Questions

Character Analysis

Romiette “Romi” Cappelle

In the words of protagonist Romiette “Romi” Cappelle herself, “I am brown, like the earth, tall and slim like a poplar tree, and outspoken like the wind on a stormy day” (4). Sixteen-year-old Romi exudes confidence, pride, and a willingness to explore her identity as an African American girl. In many ways, she is a typical teenager with various likes (environmentally safe products, chili, and macadamia nut cookies) and dislikes (picky people, watermelon, and chocolate). But unlike many teenage characters who are framed as emotional and irrational, she is decidedly practical; however, her friendship with the aptly named Destiny allows her to appreciate the spiritual as well. Romi experiences a recurring drowning dream, as she cannot swim, but Destiny’s talk of soul mates and the eventual manifestation of her nightmare (i.e., transfer student-turned-friend Julio Montague saving her from drowning) allow her to conquer her fear of open water.

Despite the negative reputation of the Black gang at her high school, the Devildogs, and her being mistakenly linked to them, Romi remains proud of her African heritage—as her father’s job as a successful newscaster and her mother’s dealings with expensive African artifacts give her a strong sense of cultural identity. As for romantic possibility, she is at an age when boys seem less “smelly, noisy, and confusing” and more intriguing (9). As she comes to terms with her attraction for Julio, she reveals her courage and independence in her ability to experience the new and take risks for the sake of loving whom she loves and protecting others from injustices such as gang violence.

Julio Montague

Protagonist Julio Montague’s arc is one of selfishness to selfless love. Sixteen-year-old Julio, a Mexican American transfer student, arrives in Cincinnati, Ohio, feeling “angry and not afraid to fight” (15), as he has felt like an outsider his whole life. In his old home of Corpus Christi, Texas, he and his friend Diego were the only non-gang-affiliated boys at their school, not willing to surrender their identity to a group. In Cincinnati, Julio’s isolation and resentment are underscored by his difficulty adjusting to the winter weather—with his first act at his new high school being punching his future friend, Ben Olsen, for getting too close to him in the hall.

However, beneath Julio’s impulsive nature is a sensitive boy who enjoys music, misses swimming and sailing in the Gulf of Mexico, and cooks spicy foods reflective of his Mexican American identity. He finds solace in new friend Ben and falls in love with later friend Romi, often opening up to the two about his life (i.e., him having to leave his golden retriever behind in Corpus Christi, arguing with his father Luis, etc.). When Julio and Romi are abducted by the Black gang at their high school, the Devildogs, and left adrift in a boat, Julio saves Romi from drowning and freezing to death—embodying the power of love in the face of hate.

Destiny

With her eccentric wardrobe and fascination with star charts, Destiny often acts as comic relief. As per her namesake, she believes in fate, and this belief is realized through both her and best friend Romi’s respective love stories. Her talk of soul mates elevates Romi and Julio’s Shakespearean relationship above that of a typical high school romance. Destiny quickly befriends Julio’s best friend Ben, and the two later prove soul mates in their own right. She and Ben support Romi and Julio’s relationship, and Destiny in particular proposes that they incriminate the Black gang at their high school, the Devildogs. In a pivotal moment, she experiences doubt while she and Ben search for their missing friends. However, in the end, Romi and Julio return safe, and her buoyant optimism is restored.

Ben Olsen

With his eccentric wardrobe and disregard for others’ opinions, Ben Olsen is described as a misfit, a “strange skinny white kid” (22). His friendship with Julio and eventual romance with Destiny give Romiette and Julio a sense of humanity. In the face of Romi and Julio’s Shakespearean relationship, Ben’s energy is less grand but no less charming. His flashy hair in particular—dyed a different color every day—illustrates his creativity and independence.

Ben’s efforts to befriend fellow outsider Julio despite the latter punching him and being threatened by the Black gang at their high school, the Devildogs, reveal his courage. When Julio punches Ben for getting too close to him in the school halls, Ben protects Julio from punishment. When Julio and Romi go missing, Ben doesn’t give up hope of their survival. In his growing appreciation for the spiritual, and for Destiny, he comes to understand the power of love.