Brown Girl Dreaming

Character List
Jacqueline Woodson  Author and main character
 from birth until fifth grade

Mary Ann Irby  Jacqueline's mother

 daughter of Gunnar & Georgiana Irby
 was married to Jack Woodson for at least 3 years,
but separated from him
 leaves Hope, Odella, & Jacqueline living with her
parents in South Carolina
 takes children to New York City with her; has
given birth to her fourth and final child, Roman at
that point

Jack Woodson  father of Hope, Odella, and Jacqueline

(Jacqueline is named after  only present in Part I
 does not stay in contact with children after
him.) separating from Mary
 Woodsons descended from president Thomas
Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings.

Odella Woodson Jacqueline's older sister

 sometimes mistaken for twins
(aka Dell)
 strong and avid reader from early childhood.
 Gifted, wins awards; praise from the family.
 named after their mother's older brother Odell,
who died shortly before Odella's birth.

Hope Woodson  Jacqueline's older brother

 very quiet
 loves comic books, superheroes, and science
 named after his father's father
 he is made fun of by other children for having a
name more commonly used for girls
Roman Woodson  the fourth and youngest sibling
 born in New York (not Ohio) to Mary Ann Irby and
an unknown other person (not Jack Woodson)
 problems with his brain development (from
eating lead paint)

Caoline (Kay) Irby  Jacqueline's aunt (mom’s sister)

(aka Aunt Kay)  lived in the same building as Jacqueline’s family
(in New York City)

Robert Irby  Jacqueline's uncle (mother's younger

brother)
 sent to jail during Jacqueline's childhood

Odell Irby  Jacqueline's uncle (mother's older

brother)
 dies shortly before Odella is born

Georgiana Irby  Jacqueline’s grandmother (the mother

of Jacqueline's mother)
 Hope, Odella, and Jacqueline live with her and
Gunnar while Mary Ann is living in New York City.
 grew up in the early 1900s in the South
 devout Jehovah's Witness; makes Hope, Odella,
and Jacqueline practice her religion

Gunnar Irby  Jacqueline's grandfather (father of

(aka “Daddy”) Mary Ann Irby)
 Of all Mary Ann's children, Jacqueline is closest to
Gunnar.
 believes in nature and farming
 he does not share Georgiana's religious faith

Maria  Jacqueline's best friend in New York

City
 family is Puerto Rican
 she and Jacqueline dress alike for an entire year;
get asked by strangers whether they are cousins