What Is The What

Achor Achor is Deng’s roommate in Atlanta. The two met in a refugee camp in Ethiopia and travelled together as Lost Boys. Achor Achor is smart and good at surviving, which helps him acclimate to life in America a bit better than some of the other boys. He seems to want to help care for Deng, making sure he is safe and making good choices.

Tonya is the woman who gets into Deng’s apartment at the beginning of the novel and facilitates the robbery.

Powder is Tonya’s male accomplice who beats up Deng during the robbery, and tells him that he is teaching him a lesson about living in America.

Michael, known at first as "TV Boy," is Tonya’s son. The boy is left guarding the bound and gagged Deng while Tonya looks for a vehicle to haul away Deng’s valuables. He’s terrified to speak to Valentino.

Deng Arou is Deng’s father. He has many wives and children, and is considered successful in his village. Deng Arou is a businessman in Sudan, trading freely with both the Dinka and the Arabs, until the war breaks out and he loses his business. Arou fought in the first Sudanese civil war but then put his revolutionary actions behind him.

Moses is one of Deng’s two close friends from Marial Bai who eventually makes it to America. He trains as a soldier for some time, and becomes quite physically fit because of his time with the rebels.

William K is one of Deng’s two best friends. They grew up together in Marial Bai. William K likes to make up stories and exaggerate the truth to make his tales more exciting.

Tabitha is Deng’s girlfriend who, in the novel’s narrative present, has recently been killed by her former lover, Duluma. She and Deng originally met in the Kakuma refugee camp. All the men are attracted to Tabitha, but she has a special connection with Deng. Deng finds himself wishing they had sped up their relationship, not knowing that she would be murdered before their time together could begin in earnest.

Majok is a leader among the Lost Boys of Sudan. He successfully leads the boys to the Pinyudo refugee camp, and then helps create housing and schools for the refugees.

Williams is the founder of the Lost Boys Foundation in America. She is a close friend of Deng’s, but the stress of her position and the judgment from some of the other Sudanese she works on behalf of cause her to eventually resign her position and shutter the foundation.