The Icarus Girl

Titiola, whom Jess calls TillyTilly, is a Nigerian girl around Jess’s age. Jess is the only person who can speak to TillyTilly, and it is unclear whether TillyTilly is an imaginary friend or a supernatural figure with some connection to Jess’s deceased sister, Fern. TillyTilly first appears to Jess in Nigeria after Jess explores the Boys’ Quarters, an abandoned servants’ quarters on her grandfather’s property. TillyTilly has magical powers and can make herself and Jess travel invisibly through Jess’s classmate’s house and go underground into the earth, among other supernatural adventures. TillyTilly often appears to Jess in her dreams or in her bedroom in the middle of the night. One night, TillyTilly tells Jess that Jess used to have a twin sister named Fern who died as a baby. This event is especially mysterious since nobody is able to explain how Jess would know about Fern.

As the novel progresses, TillyTilly’s behavior becomes increasingly mischievous and cruel, until Jess is finally afraid of TillyTilly. By the end of the novel, TillyTilly’s character is still unclear, but it is implied that she has a connection to the Bush, the spiritual wilderness that Jess is said to have access to because she is a twin.

Sarah Harrison is Jess’s mother. Sarah was born in Nigeria but moved to England to study medicine at university. She switched her concentration to English literature and became a writer.

Sarah loves Jess, but she sometimes hits her, since that is the way that she was raised by her father. Sarah’s father thinks this form of discipline is wrong, and he and Sarah often fight over parenting methods. When Jess asks Sarah about Fern, Sarah says she wishes that they had made an ibeji statue for Fern, a wooden figurine meant to represent a twin who died as a child. Though Sarah isn’t religious, this moment indicates that Sarah’s Nigerian heritage continues to have an effect on her.

Daniel Harrison is Jess’s father. He is English. Compared to Jess’s mother, he is quieter and more even-tempered. While Sarah will sometimes hit or yell at Jess, Daniel tries to talk to Jess instead. Nevertheless, he does hit Jess in a moment of frustration. Daniel later collapses at work, and Jess believes that TillyTilly caused his illness as revenge.

Siobhan, also called Shivs, is Dr. McKenzie’s daughter. Siobhan and Jess become friends when Jess is over at the McKenzies’ house for an appointment. While Jess is quiet and keeps to herself, Siobhan is talkative, has a big personality, and has friends at school. Siobhan thinks Jess is smart, and when Jess tells Siobhan about TillyTilly, Siobhan believes her, thinking Jess is too smart to have an imaginary friend. However, Siobhan becomes frightened of TillyTilly while over at Jess’s house, able to sense that TillyTilly is dangerous. One night, at a sleepover at Jess’s house, Siobhan falls down the stairs, badly cutting her neck. It is unclear whether Jess pushed Siobhan, but Siobhan is not allowed to play with Jess after that incident.

Dr. McKenzie is a psychologist and Siobhan’s father. At first, Jess is nervous to visit Dr. McKenzie, but she quickly warms up to him. Psychologist appointments with him feel more like having a conversation. However, as Jess’s behavior worsens, Dr. McKenzie believes that Jess may have an alter-ego in TillyTilly, or a personality disorder. Jess is frustrated that he doesn’t believe that TillyTilly is real.

Gbenga is Jess’s grandfather and Sarah’s father. He lives in the main house on his compound in Nigeria, with Jess’s aunts, uncles, and cousins in nearby houses. Gbenga and Jess get along quickly and spend a lot of time together during Jess’s first trip to Nigeria. Gbenga is a Baptist Christian and devoted to his local prayer group. Gbenga and Sarah sometimes argue about religion since she abandoned Christianity years ago. Gbenga gives Jess an ibeji carving and wants to take Jess to a witch doctor after she acts strangely, indicating that he also follows traditional Nigerian beliefs. 

Colleen is a popular girl in Jess’s class at school. Jess and Colleen do not get along, and Colleen sometimes bullies Jess. While sneaking into Colleen’s house with TillyTilly, Jess discovers that Colleen’s mother is abusive and that Colleen wets herself. Jess confronts Colleen about wetting herself at school, causing Colleen to wonder how Jess found out. Jess later apologizes, but Colleen leaves her alone after that incident.