The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg

Homer’s older brother, Harold, is 17. Though still too young to be a soldier, Harold is kidnapped and sent to war because of his wicked uncle Squint, who resents housing and feeding him. When Homer finally locates Harold, he learns that Harold wanted to go away because he was tired of taking care of Homer. Homer understands that the fault lies with Squint, not Harold. Harold gets in trouble as a mutineer for fighting with his sergeant, but he proves himself in battle, his heart as pure and brave as Homer remembers it. 

One of the principal villains of the story, Squint is Homer and Harold’s cruel uncle, who abuses and overworks the boys and gets rid of Harold by having him drafted illegally into the Union Army. His name suggests someone who squints angrily and who leeches off others or leaches acid into their lives. Homer escapes from Squint, and, after finding Harold, joins Mr. Brewster’s family. 

Manager of a traveling circus, Professor Fleabottom isn’t really a professor—that’s just a stage name—but he mentors Homer as the boy searches for Harold and learns the ropes of carnival life. Intelligent and perceptive, Fleabottom’s outlook affects Homer’s worldview, but Fleabottom also exaggerates the benefits of his elixir, and Homer knows it. Fleabottom is revealed as a Confederate spy named Reginald Crockett—possibly related to the famous Davy Crockett—but he bribes his way out of custody, travels to Gettysburg, and fights for the Confederate side, dying nobly during a failed attack on Union forces. 

Tall and black-clad with a patriarchal beard and a booming voice, Jebediah Brewster owns a tourmaline mine that has made him wealthy, and his vigorous Quaker beliefs encourage him to spend large sums on hiding escaped Southern enslaved people and helping them reach freedom in Canada. Brewster takes a liking to Homer; together, they outsmart the slave-hunting killers Stink and Smelt. Brewster offers to adopt Homer, who first finds and brings back his brother, and they become part of Brewster’s family and business. 

Stink is a bounty hunter who, with his partner Smelt, searches for runaway enslaved people that he can return to the South for cash. One-eyed and crusted with grime, Stink has an odor that Homer claims is “so overpowering I can’t hardly breathe” (25). Stink wants to kill Homer, but this keeps getting delayed until Stink is defeated by Samuel Reed and Homer goes free.

A nearly toothless bounty hunter searching for runaway enslaved people, Smelt is smarter than his partner Stink but just as cruel. Smelt forces Homer to spy on Jebediah Brewster’s home, but Brewster gets Homer to double-cross his tormenter and help save the day.

Samuel is a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad: This means he drives wagonloads of runaway enslaved people during a portion of their journey north to freedom. Proud and courageous despite his fears, Samuel has a strong moral sense. He’s grateful that Homer saved him from death at the hands of Stink and Smelt; in return, Samuel saves Homer by knocking out the bounty hunters before they can kill the boy. Samuel works closely with Jebediah Brewster, whose home serves as a “station” on the Underground Railroad. 

Minerva, the tattooed lady of the Carnival of Miracles medicine show, takes Homer under her wing and helps him navigate his new duties as a performer in the show. Named for the Greek goddess of arts and healing, Minerva cares for Homer as a surrogate mother who helps the boy heal his heart, wounded by loss and abuse. 

Jebediah Brewster’s cook, Mrs. Bean, revives the starving Homer and, like her employer, cares about the boy despite his propensity for telling tall tales. She doesn’t want Homer to chase after Harold’s army regiment and hopes instead he’ll live at the Brewster home. Her wish comes true at the story’s end, when Mr. Brewster adopts Homer and Harold.