Book Scavenger

James is an eccentric Asian American boy whose family owns the building where Emily’s family has rented an apartment. An unruly lock of hair sticks up on his head, which he named Steve. James loves puzzles but has never participated in Book Scavenger until he meets Emily and the two connect over their mutual love of riddles. Because his family has set down roots in San Francisco, James is more psychologically grounded than Emily. He knows how to be a loyal friend and is supportive of her determination to solve Griswold’s new game.

When Emily fails to be equally supportive of his cipher challenge with Maddie, he is hurt and withdraws briefly. Over time, he learns to forgive his wavering friend. In the end, the two reunite to solve Griswold’s treasure hunt and strike a winning blow for book lovers everywhere.

Matthew is Emily’s teenage brother. He idolizes a punk rock band called Flush and is their number one fan. Matthew has shaved his head into an asymmetrical Mohawk hairstyle in an effort to look cool. He was once an avid Book Scavenger player but lost that interest as he got older. The game once created a bond between him and Emily, and Matthew is unaware of how much his lack of interest has hurt his sister.

Matthew has learned to adapt to his parent’s erratic moves from one state to another and has managed to keep in touch with friends he made along the way. He tries to convey his philosophy to Emily, but she doesn’t have the same network of friends as her older brother. By the end of the book, Matthew realizes how much Emily needs his support, and he helps her solve the treasure hunt and apprehend the villains, prioritizing her needs over his desire to see Flush in concert.

Hollister is an older Black man who wears his hair in distinctive dreadlocks. He is the owner of an independent bookstore called Hollister’s and is friendly with James and Emily. Years earlier, he and Griswold were partners in the bookstore, but they parted ways over a difference of opinion on how best to run the business. Hollister wanted to keep the store small and support the community, while Griswold had grander ideas for expansion. Hollister mistakenly thought his friend had become greedy, and the two broke ties with one another.

Hollister knows a few facts about “The Gold-Bug” and offers quiet assistance as the kids pursue their quest. He keeps a watchful eye over them and saves them from the villain at the end of the story. As Hollister witnesses Emily’s struggle with the notion of friendship, he seems to soften in his views toward Griswold, and becomes instrumental in Emily and James’s reconciliation. The book implies that Hollister may reconnect with his old friend at some future date.

Griswold is the elderly owner of a publishing company and the mastermind behind the Book Scavenger website. Like Emily, Griswold loves books and delights in puzzles. He is critically injured while on the way to revealing his newest game, so he functions more as a source of inspiration to Emily and the other gamers rather than as an active character in the story. Griswold sets the plot in motion but is taken out of the action early. This allows the kids to take the lead in solving the treasure hunt.

Griswold reappears at the end of the story to connect the dots of unexplained plot points. He rewards the kids for their efforts and publishes an undiscovered Poe manuscript for the world to enjoy. He, too, seems to feel the loss of his friendship with Hollister and hints that he might try to reestablish that connection.