Fuzzy Mud

Seventh grader Marshall feels as emotionally rumpled as his mussy hair and baggy sweater. Once a popular, good student, he now eats alone at lunchtime and suffers daily “torture” from former friends-turned-bullies led by Chad. School was once a pleasure to Marshall but has become a “dungeon.” Depressed, irritable, and full of self-pity, Marshall has difficulty seeing beyond his own troubles. Tamaya, who crushed on him from second through fourth grade, isn’t sure if she even likes him anymore, because he’s acting like such a “jerk.” Marshall is even short with his little twin siblings and his parents, who work hard to afford Woodridge Academy.

Marshall blames others for his problems. While he feels bad about taking his frustration out on others—especially his one remaining friend, Tamaya—he feels helpless to stop it. He allows Chad’s bullying to negatively affect his thoughts about himself; he feels like a “loser.” Marshall thinks he deserves pity and puts himself and his concerns before others, lying to Mrs. Thaxton to keep from getting in trouble and dismissing Tamaya’s fears for Chad. When he recognizes the danger Tamaya is in, he snaps out of his self-absorption and shows his inner strength, helping Tamaya and Chad with bravery and compassion. Marshall learns the importance of friendship—and of standing up for yourself.

With his black hair, blunt face, and “blue, steel-like eyes,” Chad—a newcomer to Woodridge Academy—appears every bit the tough-guy. Thrown out of three schools (five, according to Chad), Woodridge Academy is his last stop before juvie. Chad’s tales of his alleged criminal exploits—like riding his motorcycle up the steps of his old school and into the principal’s office—draw an awed crowd of both boys and girls. Chad loves the attention. Marshall ruefully observes that “the more [Chad] got in trouble the more everyone seemed to admire him” (17).

Chad doesn’t like feeling challenged or disrespected. He knows he’s at a disadvantage intellectually at Woodridge, and by picking on Marshall and uniting the other students against him, Chad establishes dominance. He’s a tough physical fighter, but all his wild stories, threats, and violence are a cover for his emotional vulnerability. Chad is angry and insecure. His parents actively dislike him, preferring his “perfect” siblings to Chad and his pricey troublemaking. He spends his time alone in the woods, climbing trees, and his parents rarely notice his absence. Chad resents Marshall’s supportive family. Despite his bluster, Chad is lonely. His traumatic experience with the mud, Tamaya’s compassion, and Marshall’s forgiving support help him release his anger, gain true friends, and feel a new appreciation for life.

Dr. Mark Humbard testifies that scientist Jonathan Fitzman is “one hundred percent bananas” (8). “Eccentric” and “genius” are other words people use to describe him. Fitzman is a bona fide science nerd and, like Dr. Frankenstein, a true mad—as in obsessive—scientist. He alters nature to create a new lifeform. Fitzman admits he has trouble expressing all the ideas that roil around in his head, telling Tamaya he thinks differently than he talks. His favorite subject is science, but he dropped out of college to pursue his experimental ergonyms. Fitzman is restless and energetic: He doesn’t want a chair in his office because he cannot sit still and does his best work when moving around. Fitzman waves his arms wildly when he talks and has a youthfully exuberant manner of speech, laughing and joking with the Senate Committee and exclaiming that the ergonyms are “totally awesome” (29).

Fitzy is proud of his ergonyms. He personifies the ergies, calling them “little fellows.” Fitzman is confident that the ergonyms are completely under his control and that he’s accounted for the possibilities of mutations—but the ergonyms prove otherwise. Fitzman has a good heart is truly upset at the epidemic and the suffering his ergonyms caused, but at the end of the novel, Fitzman again shows his hubris. He promises that Biolene is completely safe and that his new safeguards will keep the ergonyms under control—something that Sachar’s return to the 2 x 1 = 2 equation ominously calls into question.

The headmistress of Woodridge Academy is experienced, decisive, and strong but, like anyone, makes mistakes. Mrs. Thaxton seems to have a good read on the students. While questioning Marshall’s class about Chad’s disappearance, she takes multiple “long looks” at Marshall, suspecting—rightly—that he knows more than he admits. Sachar creates dramatic irony and increases suspense by revealing more than Mrs. Thaxton knows. Immediately after confirming that Tamaya is missing, Mrs. Thaxton quickly places the school on lockdown. She berates herself, however, for overlooking and underestimating both Tamaya and Chad, albeit for different reasons. Although Mrs. Thaxton gets emotional about the disappearance of Tamaya and Chad, she works to control her feelings, knowing that she must “be strong in this time of crisis” (106).

Mrs. Dhilwaddi has dark hair and dark eyes like Tamaya, and she loves wearing bright colors. Mrs. Dhilwaddi works hard during the day and often brings work home. Tamaya knows her mom is a pro multitasker. Tamaya loves and respects her mom, and the two are similar. Like her mom, Tamaya bites her lower lip when she concentrates hard. Tamaya and her mother often sit next to each other on the sofa in the evenings, sometimes in their pajamas, while Tamaya does her homework and Mrs. Dhilwaddi works on job-related projects. Mrs. Dhilwaddi is protective toward Tamaya, insisting that she not walk home alone. Skirting the truth with her mother about the shortcut through the woods makes Tamaya uncomfortable and creates a moral dilemma. Tamaya doesn’t lie, especially to her mother.

Monica, Hope, and Summer are Tamaya’s friends, but Tamaya is hurt when they criticize her in front of the older boys. The three girls are savvier about tween peer relationships than Tamaya, who feels left out. Hope wants Tamaya to lie about her rash and tell the boys instead that she stabbed her hand with a pencil. Monica is Tamaya’s best friend. When Tamaya is in the hospital, she and Monica talk often by phone. When Tamaya begins to recover and regain her eyesight, Monica is so happy that she cries. Both Summer and Monica support Tamaya emotionally when she leaves the hospital. Monica gives her a stylish pair of glasses, and Summer praises Tamaya’s small scar, telling her it increases her beauty.