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Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
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"Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great" Characters Analysis

A young girl confronts her fears and learns to embrace her true self during a summer vacation.

Estimated read time: 6 min read

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great Character Analysis

List of Characters

NameRole
Sheila TubmanProtagonist
Libby TubmanSheila's sister
Mouse EllisSheila's friend
Jane T. BerquistSheila's friend
Sondra FishbeinSheila's friend
Sheila's ParentsFamily members

Role Identification

Sheila Tubman

Sheila Tubman is the protagonist of the story. She is a young girl who is struggling with various fears and insecurities and is determined to overcome them.

Libby Tubman

Libby Tubman is Sheila's older sister. She often takes pleasure in teasing and embarrassing Sheila, but deep down, she cares for her sister.

Mouse Ellis

Mouse Ellis is one of Sheila's friends. She is adventurous and often encourages Sheila to face her fears.

Jane T. Berquist

Jane T. Berquist is Sheila's friend who is confident and outspoken. She often challenges Sheila to step out of her comfort zone.

Sondra Fishbein

Sondra Fishbein is another friend of Sheila. She is known for her intelligence and often helps Sheila with her schoolwork.

Sheila's Parents

Sheila's parents play a supporting role in the story, providing guidance and comfort to Sheila as she navigates her fears and challenges.

Character Descriptions

Sheila Tubman

Sheila is a ten-year-old girl who presents a tough exterior to hide her insecurities. She is intelligent, witty, and determined to conquer her fears, despite the challenges she faces.

Libby Tubman

Libby is Sheila's older sister, who enjoys teasing Sheila but also supports her when it truly matters. She is portrayed as confident and assertive.

Mouse Ellis

Mouse is a lively and adventurous friend of Sheila. She often serves as a catalyst for Sheila's personal growth, encouraging her to confront her fears.

Jane T. Berquist

Jane is a bold and outspoken friend who challenges Sheila to step out of her comfort zone. She is depicted as confident and unafraid to speak her mind.

Sondra Fishbein

Sondra is portrayed as intelligent and studious. She often supports Sheila academically and provides a different perspective on facing challenges.

Sheila's Parents

Sheila's parents are portrayed as understanding and supportive. They offer guidance and comfort to Sheila as she navigates her fears and insecurities.

Character Traits

Sheila Tubman

  • Intelligent
  • Witty
  • Determined
  • Insecure
  • Courageous

Libby Tubman

  • Confident
  • Supportive
  • Teasing
  • Protective

Mouse Ellis

  • Adventurous
  • Lively
  • Encouraging
  • Supportive

Jane T. Berquist

  • Bold
  • Outspoken
  • Confident
  • Challenging

Sondra Fishbein

  • Intelligent
  • Studious
  • Supportive
  • Rational

Sheila's Parents

  • Understanding
  • Supportive
  • Comforting
  • Guiding

Character Background

Sheila Tubman

Sheila Tubman is a ten-year-old girl who has recently moved to a new neighborhood. She is intelligent but struggles with various fears and insecurities, including dogs and swimming.

Libby Tubman

Libby is Sheila's older sister, known for her confidence and occasional teasing of Sheila. Despite their differences, she ultimately cares for her sister's well-being.

Mouse Ellis

Mouse is Sheila's adventurous friend who often pushes Sheila to confront her fears. She is a source of encouragement and support for Sheila.

Jane T. Berquist

Jane is Sheila's outspoken friend who challenges Sheila to step out of her comfort zone. Her bold personality often influences Sheila's decisions.

Sondra Fishbein

Sondra is portrayed as an intelligent and studious friend who supports Sheila academically and offers a rational perspective on overcoming challenges.

Sheila's Parents

Sheila's parents play a supportive role, offering guidance and comfort as Sheila navigates the ups and downs of facing her fears and insecurities.

Character Arcs

Sheila Tubman

Sheila's character arc revolves around facing and overcoming her fears. Throughout the story, she confronts challenges, gradually gaining confidence and resilience.

Libby Tubman

Libby's character arc involves a shift from teasing her sister to understanding and supporting her through her struggles, showcasing a more caring and protective side.

Mouse Ellis

Mouse's character arc highlights her role as a supportive and encouraging friend to Sheila, consistently pushing her to step out of her comfort zone.

Jane T. Berquist

Jane's character arc revolves around her bold and outspoken nature, which serves as a catalyst for Sheila's personal growth, ultimately influencing her own perspective.

Sondra Fishbein

Sondra's character arc emphasizes her role as a rational and supportive friend, offering Sheila academic and emotional support as she navigates her fears.

Sheila's Parents

The character arc of Sheila's parents portrays their unwavering support and guidance for Sheila, providing comfort and encouragement as she faces her fears.

Relationships

Sheila and Libby

The relationship between Sheila and Libby is characterized by teasing and conflicts, but ultimately evolves into a supportive and caring dynamic as Libby begins to understand Sheila's struggles.

Sheila and Mouse

Sheila and Mouse share a close friendship, with Mouse consistently encouraging and supporting Sheila as she confronts her fears, playing a pivotal role in her personal growth.

Sheila and Jane

Sheila and Jane's relationship is defined by Jane's bold and challenging nature, which influences Sheila's decisions and contributes to her development throughout the story.

Sheila and Sondra

Sheila and Sondra share a supportive friendship, with Sondra offering academic and rational support to Sheila, contributing to her growth and resilience.

Sheila and Her Parents

Sheila's relationship with her parents is characterized by their unwavering support and guidance, providing comfort and encouragement as Sheila navigates her fears and challenges.

In conclusion, the characters in "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great" each play a significant role in Sheila's journey of personal growth and overcoming fears. Through their interactions and individual traits, the characters contribute to the development of Sheila's character and the overall narrative of the story.