Cosmic

The deuteragonist of the story is Liam’s friend Florida Kirby. She’s initially an abrasive girl obsessed with fame and celebrity culture who wants nothing more than to feel glamorous and important. When Liam first asks her to pretend to be his daughter, she’s reluctant until she hears that it may involve a limo ride. This need for visibility and recognition hints at something deeper: Florida’s desire to be seen, especially by her absent father. Florida later admits that she hopes becoming famous will make him notice her, saying she wants to become so well-known that her dad will see her and be proud, or maybe even return.

As the story progresses, Florida begins to change. Though at first she believes that the space program is just a slow plane going to London, her experiences in the Gobi Desert and on the space mission force her to confront real fear and responsibility and to learn about space travel. Liam helps her to push past her fears, as he is the only “dad” who successfully gets his “child” onto the terrifying Vortex ride. Through Liam’s encouragement and their shared challenges, Florida starts to grow, both emotionally and intellectually. She even becomes interested in science, learning about buoyancy while swimming and about gravity during the zero-gravity flights. Florida surprises everyone when she has the solution for getting the rocket back to Earth after their crisis. Florida and Liam help each other mature: She brings out his protectiveness and leadership, helping him learn to mature and accept greater responsibility, and he gives her the trust and stability she has long needed.

Liam’s parents play crucial roles in shaping his identity and emotional growth throughout the story, particularly around the theme of Growing Up and Taking Responsibility. Liam’s mother is loving but anxious about her son’s development. She expresses concern that he’s growing too fast, even worrying that something might be wrong with him. This concern reflects the natural parental fear of losing a child to adulthood too soon, as Liam begins to resemble a man even though he’s only 12.

In contrast, Liam’s father is more relaxed and humorous, offering a balance between authority and support. His dry sense of humor matches Liam’s own sarcastic, casual style, suggesting that Liam’s dad has significantly shaped Liam’s personality. Their close bond is evident when Liam recalls how, as a child, he never worried about being left behind because he knew “he’d come back for me […] When you’re a kid you think your dad can do anything” (19). This idealization begins to shift as Liam is forced into adult responsibilities and realizes, “I suppose that means I’m not a kid anymore” (200), because his dad can’t save him from space. Liam’s father is his example when Liam is on his own, and through doing what he thinks his father would do, Liam learns how crucial fatherhood is to a kid.

An eccentric, charismatic, and overly enthusiastic figure, Dr. Dinah Drax is the owner of the Drax corporation and the person behind the secret rocket launch. Dr. Drax represents the innovator archetype, and she also shows how those with too much power may lose their sense of reality and compassion. Though initially appearing as kind and visionary, she gradually reveals a darker, more unpredictable side. She calls the space mission a gift to the next generation and an apology for destroying the planet, showing both grandiosity and guilt for the corporate world’s impact on the environment. Her elaborate plan to send children into space under the guise of a competition shows that she’s reckless and puts her own goals before human safety. Her friendliness becomes suspicious, especially when she insists that nothing will go wrong.

Her refusal to let Liam withdraw Florida from the mission despite his desperate protests demonstrates her sociopathic tendencies and disregard for consent or concern. As the story unfolds, her motivations blur the line between visionary leadership and dangerous obsession. By expecting others to blindly trust her secret space program, Dr. Drax becomes a twisted and extreme version of parenthood, demanding loyalty while refusing responsibility. Her character is a critique of how authority figures can manipulate enthusiastic youths to meet their own goals.

Hasan and his father, Mr. Xanadu, have a unique father-son dynamic shaped by wealth and trauma. Hasan reveals that during a war, his father kept him safe by paying off the soldiers who were kidnapping children. This revelation explains why money means everything to Mr. Xanadu. As a result, both Hasan and his father view the world through a transactional lens, where everything has a price, including people. This worldview mirrors characters like Veruca Salt and her father from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, reinforcing the idea that indulgence can lead to moral degradation.

Hasan himself seems to have the same anxiety and survival instincts passed down from his father. He’s described as constantly fretting about money, even in childhood moments that should be carefree or fun, and fears every activity, test, and task. Rather than enjoying the simplicity of being a kid, Hasan behaves more like a “trainee grown-up” (177), obsessed with adult concerns. This reflects the thematic idea that one’s parents can force maturity and responsibility that don’t allow the child room for self-discovery. Ironically, while his father believes that money can solve every problem, it does little to help Hasan when he’s faced with actual danger or emotion. His character is a critique of materialism and the limits of wealth in providing real security or happiness.

Max and his father, Monsieur Martinet, have the most competitive and strained parent-child relationship in the story. Monsieur Martinet pushes Max to succeed, valuing performance over his son’s emotional well-being. When Max hesitates before getting on the Vortex ride, his father yells at him, hoping shame will motivate him. This moment contrasts with Liam’s more supportive approach, emphasizing how emotional pressure from a parent can isolate a child rather than inspire them. Max, in turn, internalizes this pressure and constantly strives to win, believing that his worth is tied to being first.

In space, Max is obsessed with pressing the eject button, convinced that doing so will make him a hero. His competitive streak blinds him to the real consequences of his actions, making him a risk rather than an asset to the mission. Liam must distract him multiple times to prevent disaster, which reinforces Liam’s quiet rise as a more responsible figure. When Max loses at hide and seek, he feels relieved. This moment is liberating for him because it shows him that he’s tired of the constant performance and obsession with winning. Max’s development illustrates how unhealthy parental expectations can damage a child’s sense of self.