The Boy

The Boy, or simply Boy, is the first character to appear in the book and acts as a de facto protagonist for the narrative. He appears alongside Mole at the very beginning of the book when the two first meet. Boy has a very inquisitive nature. A majority of the conversations throughout the book involve Boy asking a question and then one of the other characters answering it.

**Insecurity, Fear of Unknown, and Working Past It**

Very little is known about Boy. He frequently mentions wanting to go home, implying that the entire adventure only started because he's lost and trying to get back home. This implication is only made more unnerving by the fact that there are no man made structures seen anywhere in the book, which demonstrate that Boy has really gone far off the grid. However, despite being lost, Boy finds comfort in his new woodland friends. He enjoys sharing their companionship while traversing the beautiful unknowns of the wilderness and even feels comfortable sharing how he feels with them through his questions.

Most, if not all, of Boy's questions are on a deep, thought-provoking level. He asks things such as "what is the biggest waste of time," "what does success look like," and so on. Thankfully, Mole and Horse are always patient with Boy and they always answer Boy's questions as best as they can. Near the end of the book, Boy's questions begin to take a turn as he starts asking questions regarding himself and how others perceive him. For example, he asks "would you guys still love me even if I'm not extraordinary" and "do you guys believe in me more than I believe in myself" to the others. While Mole, Fox, and Horse reassure Boy of their love for him, Boy's questions reveal more about his character and frame of mind. He is unsure of both the future and himself as a person. Even when presented with unwavering support from close friends, Boy wonders if he truly deserves all of it. Since Boy is presumably still a child and is currently lost somewhere in the wild, it's only natural he starts getting introspective as the adventure goes on.

However, despite his great uncertainty, Boy is still able to overcome his fears. Or- more accurately, Boy is able to *start working through* his fears of the unknown. He acknowledges that he's not alone because he has three close friends by his side. Boy has found a second home with Mole, Fox, and Horse. Knowing he has their love and support (and they have his), Boy continues traveling through the great wilderness with the hope of returning to his first home someday. The book ends on this hopeful note.

Boy is only given a minimal amount of characterization aside from his uncertainty and his inquisitive nature. Both the book and Boy's character arc end after Boy expresses gratitude for the close friends he's made and for all the support they've given him. Because of these facts, Boy arguably serves as a stand-in character for the reader. "The Boy" is meant to represent anyone who doesn't know what they're doing, where they're going, and could use a reminder to stop and recognize everything they already have in life. Just like Boy and his friends, the reader's story only continues from here on out.