Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi

Natalie DuForte is Nic’s grandmother and the president of LORE. As the leader of the entire North American Remarkable world and the matriarch of the DuForte family, she leverages her considerable influence to protect her relatives and the Remarkable world, but she often does so in ways that harm the very people she purports to protect. For example, she conceals the truth about Mrs. Reyes from her citizens and her fellow government officials to shield her granddaughter, inadvertently fueling the atmosphere of tension and distrust that Tyran feeds on to spread his conspiracy theories about Nic. 

One of the clearest examples of the president’s controlling, deceptive behavior is her decision to disguise Roho as Mr. Lincoln so that the former terrorist could be kept under close watch, a decision she claims was “for the greater good” (448). Much of DuForte’s manipulative behavior can be traced back to her trauma: “I watched Roho destroy my husband. Your grandfather. You think I could ever allow anything like that to happen again?” (450). DuForte’s unresolved grief and terror explain her desperation to control her granddaughter, whom the prophecy claims represents an even greater threat to the Remarkable world than Roho.

DuForte’s struggle to control Nic positions her as the story’s antagonist. Although the Apprentice kidnaps the protagonist and Tyran attempts to kill her, it’s her own grandmother who represents the most serious threat to Nic’s autonomy. The president gives Nic the Adinkra necklace that serves as a symbol of the struggle for power because she wants “to keep the Badili under control” (449), but the necklace negatively impacts the girl’s perception of herself and her power and fails as a long-term solution to managing her formidable supernatural abilities. 

DuForte tries to use her authority to prevent tragedy rather than as a megalomaniacal villain: “I will continue to make decisions that put the safety and survival of the League, our people, and our culture first. Even the most difficult ones” (452). The author makes the character more round and sympathetic by showing how she dotes on her grandchildren and more complex by showing how her different roles and responsibilities sometimes conflict: “I didn’t always know who [she] was dealing with: [her] grandma, or President DuForte” (451). President DuForte’s complex, flawed character encourages young readers to question authority rather than simply accept the status quo.

Alex Blake is Nic’s brother. The 12-year-old has the “[s]ame brown complexion, brown eyes, and dimpled cheeks” as Calvin (14). However, although Alex favors his father physically, Nic feels much closer to Calvin than her twin does because he was raised by Zoe in Uhuru while Calvin hid with Nic in the Unremarkable world for 10 years. Nic describes her brother as “a walking, talking bundle of nerves and doubt” (175), and Thomas sometimes uses this trait as a source of humor, such as when he admits, “There is a chance I’ve overly prepared for tomorrow, but that’s better than being underprepared. And dying” (262). 

Two of Alex’s strengths are his intelligence and perceptiveness. His skills in math, science, and technology place him in Ernest kinship, and the narrator frequently cites his “twin intuition” (8), which is especially important because Nic spends much of the novel trying to conceal her negative emotions from her loved ones. Having overcome his jealousy towards Nic in the series’ first installment, Alex is supportive and openly affectionate towards his sister in the sequel. The boy also demonstrates his care by working on his relationship with Calvin in the hope of making the family as a whole closer and healthier: “‘I’m trying with Dad, Nic,’ Alex says. ‘I’m not sure I can say the same about you with Mom’” (183). Thomas uses Alex to develop the protagonist’s family dynamics, encourage Nic’s emotional growth, and provide comic relief.

Alex is one of Nic’s most reliable sources of support, and one of his narrative functions is to provide exposition. Since he grew up in the Remarkable world, he’s able to help Nic adjust to her new life in Uhuru, prepare for the Manifestor exam, and navigate her first day of school: “I may not have had a twin for long, but this is one time I’m grateful I do” (127). Whether they’re navigating the social perils of the lunchroom or searching for the Book of Anansi, Alex remains at his sister’s side throughout her journey. One of the clearest examples of his loyalty occurs when he shields her during the Za Siri’s attack on the Blake estate: “Alex throws himself over me as explosion after explosion rattles the living room” (342). By the end of the novel, Nic still faces many obstacles in the Remarkable world, but Alex shows that she can find happiness and acceptance there, too.