Pigeon English

Lydia is Harri’s older sister. She moved to England with him and their mother. Like many teenagers, she does what she can to fit in with the presumed cool crowd, even if that means compromising her morals to a degree. She likes fashion, makeup, boys and fancy material items, which her Auntie Sonia indulges. Her playful, childlike innocent side comes out in moments when she is alone with Harri and they make up silly games together like shouting out which clothes they see in the washer as it spins in the laundrette. She acts tough in front of Miquita, but she ultimately stands up for her brother and her family when she sees that Miquita takes matters a step too far. She is in a compromised position throughout most of the novel because her of knowledge of the dead boy’s murder and those involved. Miquita keeps Lydia close because of what she knows, similar to Auntie Sonia’s relationship with Julius. Ultimately, she is Harri’s champion when his detective work starts to go awry, capturing the last incriminating bit of evidence on her beloved Samsung phone—an ironic twist where her material wants for popularity become the means of implicating the murder case’s guilty party.

Even though all of the dialogue between Harri and his pigeon is in Harri’s mind, these conversations are the ultimate source of comfort for Harri as he adjusts and settles into his new environment. He wants to take care of the pigeon, feeding him and keeping him safe from magpie attacks. The pigeon, in its monologues, stresses how he is equally looking after Harri. Many of the pigeon’s musings center on the nature of humanity and social/cultural oppression. He analyzes the hierarchy of the animal kingdom and shows how humans experience a similar dynamic. There is also something divine about the pigeon and he aligns himself with a godlike knowledge and awareness, but also stresses how he needs to allow Harri to experience his own destiny.  

Dean is Harri’s “second best friend,” and is actually his most loyal companion throughout the novel. Well-versed in detective drama television shows, it is Dean’s idea to expertly attempt to find out the dead boy’s killer, carefully plotting with Harri how they will solve the mystery. While the rest of their group tends to play a lot of tricks and get into petty arguments with one another, Dean and Harri stick together and develop a close-knit bond over the course of their detective work.

Harri and Lydia’s mother is more conservative and reserved, especially in comparison to their Auntie Sonia. She works the night shifts in the hospital, helping deliver children. She wants to shield and protect her own children from the harsh realities of their new environment and disagrees with Auntie Sonia on these matters, since Sonia believes they need to be exposed to the truths of the world. She is a religious woman and brings Harri and Lydia to The Jubilee Center each week, maintaining the moral upbringing that they had in Ghana.

Sonia is Harri’s aunt. She is dating Julius, a problematic figure who uses violence to obtain what he wants. Harri observes that her fingertips are shiny from continually burning them to remove any traces of her fingerprints in order to hide her identity. She explains that she does this and will continue to do so until she finds a place she can safely and securely call home, and does not see in her current living situation as such. A victim of continual abuse, Sonia does not feel like she can remove herself from her present situation because she knows too many details about Julius’ fraudulent business. She has already involved her sister (Harri’s mother) too deeply and does not feel safe extricating herself from her relationship with Julius quite yet.

The ringleader of the Dell Farm Crew, he uses intimidation and violence to rule his arena in the schoolyard and the neighborhood. He originally tries to get Harri to join the Dell Farm Crew, giving him “missions” to complete, in order to prove himself, which Harri fails. Harri’s “failure” renders him a direct enemy to X-Fire and the rest of the Crew, and Harri must continually watch himself for the sake of his own safety. 

A member of the Dell Farm Crew and Miquita’s boyfriend, he is one of the primary suspects in the murder of the dead boy from Chicken Joe’s. He has an aggressive and fiery temperament and is swift to use violence to intimidate and threaten those perceivably weaker than him. Harri sees Killa as a sympathetic character in moments throughout the novel, and as someone acting the part of street tough due to his situation in life and the environment in which he was raised.

Closely linked with the Dell Farm Crew, Miquita is Killa’s girlfriend. She allows him to burn her with his lighter and hangs on his every word and action. Though she spends a lot of time with Lydia, she is not a true friend and she is often crass and bossy. She keeps Lydia close to keep her, in order to make sure Lydia does not say anything to anyone about the murder. She also sexually harasses Harri, using her developed female body to wield a power over him that he does not desire.

Poopy is Harri’s girlfriend and the person who shows Harri the ways of young love. They do not even share their first kiss until the end of the novel, but for Poppy and Harri, playing silly games, holding hands, and writing their initials onto a school desk declaring their love is the epitome of perfection. She is Harri’s “yellow”–the color of her hair—which calms him and places him in a happy mood when he is around her. Harri likes to impress Poppy and enjoys the affection and attention he receives from her, especially when he accomplishes something like being the fastest runner in their year.

The oldest member of Harri’s church community at The Jubilee Center, he is representative to Harri as someone completely devoted to God. Harri’s affection for Mr. Frimpong grows following the Dell Farm Crew’s attack on the old man. He begins to understand more fully Mr. Frimpong’s sense of religion and his relationship to God. Even though he is known for his loud singing that initially irritates Harri during church service, Harri comes to appreciate this quality in Mr. Frimpong and holds a significant respect for him.

Agnes is Harri’s younger sister, who is still living in Ghana with their Papa and Grandma Ama. Harri reveres her and cherishes his role as the older brother, to the point that he would trade in his own life for hers. Agnes represents his past in Ghana but also his present coming-into-adulthood in England. His willingness and desire to care for her above all else illustrates his commitment to family, and he fondly recalls her laughter with every long-distance phone call, doing anything to hear that sound. She is the final image in his mind when he passes away.