Jay Ookami

**Jay Ookami** is a character in *Molly of Denali*. He is the older brother of John Ookami and Tooey Ookami. He was first shown in a photograph in Tooey's Hole-i-Day Sweater, then introduced properly alongside John in "Puppy Palooza."

## Appearance

Jay has tan skin (similar to his father's) and black hair combed to the side. He wears a blue-green zip up jacket over a grey shirt and black jeans with brown shoes.

## Personality

Jay is a confident, sometimes cocky young man who behaves like a fairly typical big brother. He is skilled in handling sled dogs like his dad, and is learning to speak Yup'ik from his Grandma Elizabeth. While he often teases Tooey and gets on his nerves, Jay cares deeply for his kid brother, and takes the time to teach him enough Yup'ik to deliver a speech for Grandma Elizabeth at a special celebration. Jay is absent most of the time as he is currently attending college. But when he's home, his focus is primarily on the sled dogs his family raises. When there are sled races in the area, Jay helps to oversee them and provide aid to mushers on the trail. He is a natural as a teacher, and is very encouraging to kids who are trying to learn a new skill.

Jay is also a little bit possessive and territorial, as shown in "Sticker Shock," when he shows Tooey a label maker he got in order to tell his toothbrush apart from John's. He inadvertently teaches Tooey to be possessive through this, and has to break Tooey of that habit before it hurts his friendship with Molly.

## Relationships

##### Tooey

Jay loves to tease Tooey and remind him that he's the youngest in the family. But he also deeply cares for Tooey and is eager to help Tooey learn Yup'ik, one of their ancestral languages. He sometimes doubts Tooey's abilities with the sled dogs, claiming Tooey is not old enough or experienced enough to achieve a new goal with them. Sometimes, however, he puts on a facade of skepticism as a means of challenging Tooey, and motivates him by offering some kind of reward, such as the right to wear Jay's coveted Kamaka Hepa jersey for a week.

##### John

Jay attends college along with John, and they share a dorm. In most of Jay's appearances, he is with John, and the two of them usually tease or watch over Tooey together. Jay does have his boundaries with John, however, and neither of them appreciate confusing one another's toothbrushes.

##### Kenji

Jay appears to be close to his dad and shares his love for sled dogs. He sometimes questions his dad's decisions regarding the dogs or Tooey, usually to ask for more time for one or the other (usually the latter). Kenji relies on Jay to help manage the kennel whenever he's home from college.

##### Grandma Elizabeth

Jay has a close relationship with his grandmother and is learning Yup'ik from her. Grandma Elizabeth in turn expresses pride in Jay for both his enthusiasm for the language and for taking what he's learned and teaching it to others. When Jay was young, Grandma Elizabeth knitted him a gaudy Christmas sweater and made him wear it every year until he grew out of it and passed it down to John.

## References

Dogs:Anka • Tukoni • Skippy • Jax • Luka • Laika • Rascal • Kiwi • Kobi • Atsoo • Sasha • Cali • Balto • Dolt'ol • Brownie • Thor • Lord Pinklefloss • Snoozle • Chinook • Four Spots • Kih Dhidii • Arluk • Esnu