Character Spotlight: William Spiver

by Kayla Aldrich, Read to Them staff

Hello, all and welcome back! We hope you had a great weekend. As we kick off this new week, it’s also our last that we’ll be spending with Flora & Ulysses. Don’t fret, though! We’ve still got loads of wonderful things ahead. As we delve into this slate of chapters, we’re excited to shine a spotlight on a character that stole the show from his very first appearance on the page:

William Spiver

Name: William Spiver - and don’t think you can get away with calling him just William! He likes the use of his full name as it distinguishes him from all the other Williams in the world.

Age: 11 years old

Family: While his father passed away, William Spiver’s mother married a man named Tyrone that ended with William Spiver being banished to his great-aunt Tootie’s house.

Appearance: William Spiver is short with blonde hair so pale it looks white. When Flora first meets him, his eyes are hidden behind large dark glasses. And though it isn’t part of his physical description, William Spiver has a voice that’s high and thin. He’s currently suffering from temporary blindness and it makes him clumsy and prone to running into things like prickly shrubs.

Personality: William Spiver is definitely one for dramatics. He frequently speaks using hyperbole, which are exaggerated statements or claims, and has a habit of talking like a sophisticated grown-up. Some of the phrases William Spiver uses are, in Flora’s opinion, often quite cryptic, too.

Likes: He enjoys sharing his interesting thoughts with Flora. William Spiver, from the moment he meets Flora, is very fond of her. He also finds it very fun to help Flora’s mother work on her new romance novel, picking out language he feels sounds the most poetic.

Dislikes: William Spiver is, as mentioned, temporarily blinded. He won’t talk about the trauma that landed him in this state nor does he like it when Flora asks him to remove his over-large glasses. He also doesn’t care for Ulysses poetry, but it does (eventually) begin to grow on him.

Notable Quote: “Why do I sense that there is more going on here than meets the eye?”

Ah, William Spiver! You’re a good kid, if a bit quirky. As you continue to delve into the story, be sure to share photos with us of you and your family reading along on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking for a community to talk about your thoughts about Flora & Ulysses, don’t forget to fly over to Flipgrid to share them with your peers. Be well, all, and happy reading!