Show:
Characters
Whirligigs
Even Chapters
Misc.
100

This character travels across the country for killing a girl.

Who is Brent?

100

This figure sits on top of a whale on Brent's whirligig in California.

What is a mermaid?

100
This young Korean boy was forced to play the violin until his music teacher stepped in.
Who is Tony?
100
Brent travels by this across the country.
What is a bus?
200
This character is killed instantly by the main character's suicide attempt.
Who is Lea Zamora?
200
This figure holds an instrument and was an angel until Brent modified the design.
What is the harp player?
200

This girl is pushed by her friend to visit the whirligig but ends up returning on her own every year.

Who is Steph?

200
The author of Whirligig
Who is Paul Fleischman?
300

This character befriends Brent at the hostel and gives him a gift.

Who is Emil?

300
This character is depicted as the clarinet player in the marching band on one of Brent's whirligigs.
Who is Lea Zamora?
300
This character lived through the Holocaust.
Who is Jenny's grandmother?
300
This is Jenny's grandmother's nickname for her.
What is "kindelah"?
400
These characters immediately oppose the idea of Brent going on a journey to construct whirligigs.
Who are Brent's parents?
400
These are hanging around the neck of Brent's fourth and final whirligig.
What are seashells?
400
A street-sweeper
Who is Flaco?
400
The setting of the story in the beginning of the novel
What is Chicago, Illinois?
500

This character pushes Brent around at the "black and white" party.

Who is Chaz?

500

This is the first whirligig that is featured in the novel.

What is the whirligig of Lea?

500

The lesson that Flaco learns from the whirligig.

What is that people live in groups and truly need each other?

500

This is Brent's plan at the end of his journey.

What is to return home, start a new school, and start a new journey of placing whirligigs in each of the 50 states.