Granted

Charlie Rhododendron Whistler is Ophelia’s best friend and, in many ways, her foil. While Ophelia is meticulous and organized, Charlie is messy and disorganized. He has pink hair, pink eyes, and skin described as “acorn-hued” (11). Though Charlie is older than Ophelia by 10 seasons, he is much more laid back. Still, even though they have different attitudes, they are terrific friends.

Charlie is also a Granter, like Ophelia, but he got stuck doing desk duty for 10 seasons because he refused to grant a wish for a mean and spoiled child. He is not very good at talking about his feelings, and when Ophelia gets her first wish to grant, he reacts poorly. Ophelia thinks he is jealous, but he is just worried about her though he doesn’t know how to express this. Also, Squint told him not to talk about the mission he refused, so Charlie cannot explain everything to Ophelia. Even so, Charlie’s tells Ophelia not to “lose sight of what’s important” (81); these words motivate Ophelia throughout her mission.

When Ophelia sends out a distress call by mistake, Charlie is the first fairy to look for her. He goes into the outside world without permission because he wants to help his friend. Charlie also plays a big part in helping Ophelia grant Kasarah’s wish, making sure to even include Sam in the process. He is resourceful and good at anticipating what they might need to accomplish this task. 

Charlie’s loyalty and his willingness to break the rules for Ophelia show how strong their friendship is. Their unique bond adds a special touch to the magical world of Granted and helps Ophelia understand the nature of friendship.

Barnabus Oleander Squint is the Chief of the Granter’s Guild and Ophelia’s boss. He is taller than most fairies, has silver eyes and hair, and is described as cautious and calculating. Squint, like Ophelia, is very careful and particular, holding onto old ways even when they are ineffective.

While Ophelia initially looks up to Squint, he later becomes an antagonist. He is more focused on maintaining the Guild’s perfect completion rate and following rules than on the well-being of the fairies he oversees. Squint refuses to give Charlie more assignments after Charlie turns down one, and he publicly scolds Rebecca for complaining about her assignment. He is so fixated on preserving a system he knows is imperfect that he will not even consider other options.

When Ophelia explains why she wants to grant Gabe’s wish, Squint understands where she is coming. However, because he believes her decision will harm Haven in the long run, he refuses to let her do it. However, Squint’s prediction turns out to be wrong as Gabe’s wish has positive consequences for Haven and the magic. After this, Squint reveals a positive side to his character: When faced with overwhelming evidence, he is willing to change. Instead of firing Ophelia, he acknowledges the positive impact of her actions and gives her a light punishment. Additionally, he leads meetings to brainstorm a new wish-granting system, which provides hope for a better future for the fairy community in Haven.

Sam, a stray dog, becomes friends with Ophelia and plays a critical role in helping her complete her mission. He is a “mangy-looking, golden-haired mutt” (141). Sam once had an owner, but the man abandoned him on the side of the road. As a stray, Sam has primarily bad experiences with people and is afraid of them.

Even though Sam has faced tough times, he is always positive. Unlike Ophelia, he does not plan things but lives in the moment. While his excitement for life sometimes causes problems, Sam’s loyalty is essential for Ophelia’s success in her mission.

As the story goes on, Sam trusts Ophelia more and tries new things. He bravely distracts the Morales family, even when scared, because Ophelia tells him she needs him. This positive encounter with the Morales family sets the stage for them to adopt Sam later in the story.

Sam’s optimism and kindness help Ophelia start trusting other people. His courage in facing his fears shows that good things can happen when a character faces up to their challenges.

Gabe Morales is a boy with dark, wavy hair and chestnut eyes. He is a caring older brother to his younger sister, Anna. Despite the pictures around the Morales house showing a happy, smiling Gabe, his noticeable sadness and irritability stem from his father’s deployment to Iraq. Gabe’s intense longing for his father becomes so noticeable that Ophelia sees it as an aura.

Struggling with anger and sadness over his father’s absence, Gabe snaps at everyone, including his mother and even the neighbor’s cat. Similar to Ophelia, he likes to keep his room tidy. Ophelia feels a connection to Gabe, sympathizing with his situation and desperately wanting to fulfill his wish.

Gabe is crucial in advancing the story and contributes to Ophelia’s character development. His wish, which is more meaningful to Ophelia than Kasarah’s, catalyzes changes in the fairy world’s wish fulfillment system.