In an Instant

Mo Kaminski is Finn’s best friend, though the two characters have little in common. Mo is beautiful and charming, with blond hair and blue eyes. Her family, the Kaminskis, take exotic vacations and wear designer clothes. Finn does not think of herself as beautiful until she sees Charlie’s drawings of her. In addition, though Finn lives in the same neighborhood as Mo, Finn’s family is not as wealthy. Nonetheless, Mo is easy to be around and even makes Chloe comfortable. Mo is directly responsible for preventing Chloe’s suicide attempt after Chloe leaves the hospital.

As the characters struggle to survive after the accident, Mo is one of the most courageous characters, demonstrating both intelligence and integrity. After their rescue, Bob takes credit for Mo’s ideas, which included packing the windshield with snow and melting snow for water. During the recovery period, Mo changes significantly. She stops associating with the friends she had before the accident and spends more time alone. She keeps mentally cycling through the accident’s details, striving to understand how everyone’s experiences fit together. Mo’s preoccupation with these details leads to Bob’s arrest. Overall, Mo’s behavior during the accident and ability to piece together Bob’s role in Oz’s disappearance bring closure to the theme of The Struggle Between Ethics and Survival. 

Ann Miller is the matriarch of the Miller family. A lawyer by trade, she is a great communicator, exemplified when she comforts and calms the woman Finn rear ends at the novel’s beginning. Ann’s stoicism reflects the novel’s motif of false appearances. Ann tends to appear apathetic and uncaring; after her children’s deaths, she refuses to cry publicly. However, in private, she grieves deeply. Ann’s serious nature is beneficial when she and Kyle go for help. Her determination and drive help her continue through difficult circumstances until she reaches her goal. Ann’s struggle within the theme of Betrayal and Forgiveness stems in large part from the guilt and shame she feels over letting go of Kyle’s hand when she thinks he will pull her over a ledge. Though everything works out and the pair makes it to the road, Ann hates her weakness and carries this blame until the novel’s end. Ann is the last character to break her bond with Finn, demonstrating how hard it is for Ann to forgive herself and move on.

Ann’s marriage with Jack, Finn’s father, is tumultuous at best. They don’t communicate well and often blame each other for the conflict in their marriage. One of the biggest strains on their relationship is Oz. When Oz was born, Ann didn’t acknowledge his disability. She then wanted to put him in a facility that would provide him with the care and supervision he needed. Though Jack and Finn once took Oz to look at such a facility without Ann knowing, Oz’s negative reaction led Jack to swear never to try again. Jack thus became Oz’s main support and help, which significantly affects Jack’s life and marriage. Jack quit his job as a yacht captain and devoted himself to Oz. Ironically, Ann and Jack overcome their differences after Oz’s death. Without their son’s need for supervision and assistance, the characters find love again because that element of conflict is gone.

Like Ann, Jack is athletic and enjoys being outdoors. However, he is much more optimistic and engaging than his wife and more open about his emotions. Jack recognizes the conflict in his marriage and family and plans the ski trip to help alleviate it. The tragic accident that results from this trip ultimately helps him regain his happiness. He uses physical therapy to regain his athleticism, and since he no longer has to stay home to care for Oz, he plans to return to the ocean as a yacht captain. Jack’s sacrifice of his dreams and desires shows his devotion to fatherhood. He understands and helps Oz more than any other family member, even though he does so to his detriment. As Finn learns, her dad, “the eternal optimist, who has climbed mountains and conquered oceans, [is] diminished to a bitter, defeated man” in the early days after the accident (156). The narrative also reveals that Jack stayed with Ann despite knowing she had an affair with Bob.

Aubrey is the Miller family’s eldest daughter. As Aubrey is not present during the accident, since she is visiting Ben’s parents instead, she faces less trauma than her other family members afterward. Once her family returns home, she becomes a helpful distraction and catalyst for healing once her family returns home. Aubrey’s wedding is an important symbol of hope and the future for the Millers, as they decide to proceed with the wedding despite Oz’s and Finn’s deaths and the family’s continued struggle. Aubrey is most similar to Ann, and they share many things in common, including shopping, going to spas and romantic movies, and trying new restaurants. Though Aubrey acts ignorant of her family’s suffering, Finn questions if Aubrey’s breezy excitement and lightheartedness are genuine.

Chloe Miller is the middle daughter at 18 years old. She shares Finn’s bright copper hair, and though she appears aloof, she truly cares about her family, especially Finn. At the novel’s beginning, Chloe is dating Vance, an arrogant college student who thinks about himself more than others. The two love each other, but they share a rebellious streak. By the novel’s end, Chloe forgives Vance for abandoning her in the woods and begins a new romantic relationship with Eric. Finn recognizes how much better Eric is for her sister, seeing how Eric brings out the best in Chloe and is patient with her sister’s healing process.

Oz Miller is 13 and has a developmental disability that limits his emotional and intellectual maturity. Finn states, “Though he’s thirteen, my brother’s intellectual abilities are half that, and his emotions are even simpler: straightforward as a toddler’s” (18). Oz enjoys simple things and has a kind heart, but as a result of his disability, he can become frustrated quickly and does not like to share or wait. Christmas is his favorite holiday because it brings his family together, demonstrating his love for and loyalty to them. Oz is also fiercely protective of his dog, Bingo. His protective nature is why he hits Karen. Oz’s size, quick temper, and lack of impulse control make some characters feel he’s dangerous. These traits prompt Bob to trick Oz into looking for Ann, which ultimately leads to the boy’s death. Because Oz can’t reason well, he wanders in the wrong direction and dies in the wilderness.