Short

Randy Marks is Julia’s younger brother and foil. Where Julia calls herself “not musical,” she describes Randy as having “a good voice and [...] always singing. He can hear a song twice on the radio and it just sticks in his head” (12). Though Randy is younger than Julia, he is taller, further highlighting her short stature. Julia is initially hesitant about participating in the play, but Randy is thrilled and seems to excel in the spotlight. At the end of the novel, when the art critic releases his review of the play that praises everyone except the Munchkins, Julia is furious and embarrassed, whereas Randy is unaffected. Randy is a static character throughout the novel—another way in which his characterization acts as a foil to Julia’s, as she changes dramatically from the first scene to the last.

Olive is one of the three little people members of The Wizard of Oz cast and acts as one of Julia’s mentors. Olive has dark skin and black hair, and she dresses fashionably. Olive is the first adult to introduce herself to Julia and the other children, and she agrees to be Julia’s partner for the mirror exercises, showing her outgoing, kind nature. When Julia contemplates quitting the play to avoid being the lead Munchkin dancer, she chooses to call Olive, who helps Julia reconsider. As the rehearsals continue, Julia notices that Olive is interested in Gianni, the wire work technician, and as Julia’s first adult friend, Olive unwittingly models the early parts of a relationship (and a break-up) for Julia. Olive also convinces Shawn Barr to allow Mrs. Chang to audition, modeling assertive communication for Julia and showing her how to stand up for herself and her beliefs. Olive and Julia’s relationship is a cornerstone of the novel’s discussion of body positivity, discrimination, and bias, as Julia learns that Olive’s experiences as a woman of color shape her perspective as much as her height does.

Shawn Barr is the director of the university’s production of The Wizard of Oz and one of Julia’s mentors. He is shorter than average, between 60 and 70 years old, and, in Julia’s words, bold. Julia notices that Shawn Barr “looks full of energy” at the end of rehearsals (53), even when the children are tired. His enthusiasm is in part a function of his deep commitment to the show, which is evident in his decision to attend rehearsals even after his ladder accident. Though he has a distinct vision for the production, he is also deeply respectful of his actors and technical staff. When Olive, Julia, and Gianni confront him about Mrs. Chang joining the cast, he initially says no, but he listens to their arguments and ultimately changes his mind. This shows that though he is an authority, he is not stubborn; he is more than willing to invite other people into his decision-making. Shawn Barr also takes the time to ask for Mrs. Chang and Julia’s feedback during rehearsals and demonstrates how to respond to criticism after the art critic’s review. Lastly, he shows Julia how to say goodbye at the end of the play, which is key to Julia’s journey towards processing grief.