Double Dutch

Randy Youngblood is the second protagonist. The story is also told through his viewpoint, allowing the reader to see both his external carefree attitude and his deeper, more complex internal struggles. He is good-humored, friendly, and derives a sense of purpose from being helpful, particularly in supporting the Double Dutch team. He is a tall boy with a hearty appetite. His appearance contributes to his image of being an easygoing, laid-back teen, but he is surprisingly mature and resilient as he deals with serious trouble at home. 

Randy is remarkably self-sufficient. With his father absent on a long-haul trucking job and his mother having walked out of his life, Randy has learned to take care of himself. Draper emphasizes this by highlighting Randy’s daily routines and how he manages his home life. His responsibilities extend beyond his own needs. Like Delia, he is empathic. He cares for his cat, even as he runs out of food and money. This small but telling detail illustrates Randy’s deep sense of responsibility, compassion, and the emotional maturity that comes from living with abandonment.

At the core of Randy’s character is a major secret that drives much of his internal conflict—his father has not returned from a trucking trip, and Randy fears he has been abandoned just as his mother abandoned him. This secret weighs heavily on him and touches on his most deeply rooted fear: being left alone and unloved. His mother’s departure has left him questioning his self-worth. Draper uses Randy’s fear of abandonment to explore the psychological impact of parental loss on children, showing how it can foster insecurity and isolation.

Despite his adult-like responsibilities, Randy is still, in many ways, a kid. He jokes around at school and enjoys teasing Delia, even though he harbors growing feelings for her. His crush on Delia is a significant part of his emotional arc in the novel. His inability to share his true feelings with her reflects his struggle with vulnerability. He longs to be honest with her, both about his home situation and his feelings, but the shame and fear of judgment hold him back. Draper uses this aspect of Randy’s character to explore the theme of secrecy, and how his reluctance to open up creates emotional barriers in his relationships.

Randy’s feelings for his father also shape much of his internal conflict. He looks up to his dad and dreads the idea of being separated from him. His father is the last remaining parental figure in his life, and the thought of losing him leaves Randy feeling deeply uncertain about his future. Randy straddles the line between childhood and adulthood; he is forced to grow up too quickly but still clings to the hopes and fears of a young boy. Ultimately, Randy reflects the complexities of adolescence, where the need for independence is tempered by the longing for security and connection.

Yolanda Pepper is Delia’s best friend and a fellow eighth grader on the Queen Bees Double Dutch team. Bold and brash, Yolanda enjoys the spotlight, often cracking jokes in class and paying considerable attention to her appearance. One of her most prominent characteristics is her tendency to tell tall tales and exaggerate the truth, especially about her personal life. Though everyone around her knows that Yolanda embellishes her stories, they indulge her dramatic flair, appreciating the lively energy she brings to conversations. She often boasts about having multiple boyfriends, though it is clear that these tales are part of the persona she has created to be the center of attention.

Despite her tendency to exaggerate, Yolanda is a skilled and disciplined athlete on the Double Dutch team. She shows great commitment to the sport, even continuing to participate with a head injury. Double Dutch provides structure and a sense of accomplishment in Yolanda’s life, and her involvement in the team brings out a more grounded and focused side of her character.

However, Yolanda’s love for storytelling sometimes veers into harmful territory, particularly when it comes to the Tolliver twins. She is an active contributor to the rumor mill surrounding the twins, telling exaggerated stories that paint them as dangerous or mean. After the storm, however, Yolanda realizes she has many common interests with them.

Tabu and Titan Tolliver are twin brothers who attend school with Delia and Randy. They are recent transfers to the school and stand out from their peers. Dressed entirely in black, including black skull caps, the twins move together in an eerie, uniform manner that unnerves their classmates. Their intimidating demeanor and menacing glares cause other students to fear them and step aside to avoid crossing their paths. The twins add to their reputation by making threatening comments at school, further alienating them from their peers.

The twins’ mother appears on a television program about troubled teens, explaining that Tabu and Titan have always relied on each other for support but struggle to make meaningful connections with others. Their father’s tragic death during a storm left them unable to cope, leading them to retreat further into themselves. Their mother worries that they are unhappy. The twins, in turn, add to their alienation by making vague but threatening comments on television, hinting at something they might do in the future, stirring fear and suspicion among their teachers and classmates.

During their presentation on Lord of the Flies, they ask their classmates to reconsider why they are perceived as so threatening when they haven’t done anything harmful. This begins to shift the narrative around them, particularly when the storm exposes their true nature. Tabu and Titan reveal that they aren’t the villains of the story when they save Yolanda’s life. Yolanda reaches out to them and discovers that they are shy, sensitive, and empathetic teenagers who enjoy the same media as their peers, root for the Double Dutch team, and have crushes on Yolanda.

Misty is another jumper on the Queen Bees who goes to a different school. She is also extremely skilled and committed to Double Dutch. Misty reveals that Double Dutch saved her life, giving her structure and support when her dad died and her mom stopped being able to work. Because of Double Dutch, Misty was able to turn her grades around and find the discipline to care for herself and her family. Through her, the novel highlights The Value of Competitive Sports.

Bomani shows how kind authority figures can impact young people. The coach of the Double Dutch team, he is kind and supportive despite his chaotic home life with 10 children and his tendency to be late. He takes the time to boost each jumper’s confidence, offering words of pride and encouragement. When Randy is left vulnerable after the storm, Bomani refuses to let him go home alone, taking him in without hesitation. Randy feels safe enough to confide in Bomani about his father’s disappearance, and Bomani immediately steps in, offering his home and support until Mr. Youngblood is found. In this way, Bomani becomes a surrogate father to Randy, fostering a sense of family within the team and ensuring they feel both protected and valued.

Randy’s father is a long-haul trucker who often goes away for a few days but always leaves Randy well-supplied and checks in on him. Mr. Youngblood is well known and liked in the community, including by Mr. Clifford, the local pawnshop owner. Randy feels a deep sense of warmth and admiration for his father, fondly remembering their time spent together watching movies on the VCR. At the beginning of the novel, Mr. Youngblood’s sudden disappearance without a call is out of character, as he is typically a very attentive father. It is later revealed that he was robbed, beaten, and ended up in a coma in the hospital, with only a foggy memory of the incident. When Randy finally finds him, his father lights up with joy, showing how much their bond means to him.

Through Mrs. Douglas, the novel shows how parents can be both kind and flawed. Delia’s mother is a caring if not always entirely attentive figure in her daughter’s life. Draper implies that Delia’s parents’ divorce impacted both parents’ relationship with Delia. Despite Delia’s closeness to her mother, Mrs. Douglas is unaware of Delia’s struggles with reading. Delia fears that revealing her secret will upset her mother, but when she finally confesses, Mrs. Douglas responds with compassion. Rather than blaming Delia, she apologizes for not noticing the issue sooner and promises to support her, showing that she is a caring and understanding parent despite not always being attentive. Delia immediately overhears her mother arguing on the phone with her father, indicating that the distraction and conflict caused by the divorce will likely remain.

Mr. Douglas is Delia’s father. Mr. Douglas started seeing another woman during his marriage to Delia’s mother. Now divorced, Mr. Douglas has remarried a woman named Jillian, who Delia “tolerates.” Delia spends every other weekend with them. Delia feels protective of her mother and tries to shield her from having to spend time with Mr. Douglas and Jillian.