Spark

Mina, the novel’s 12-year-old protagonist, is a quiet girl whose voice is often ignored at the beginning of the narrative. When Pixit hatches, her believes it to be a terrible mistake since they do not think her timid personality will be a good fit for a lightning beast. Mina protests that he is perfect for her, but “no one heard her of course. So Mina repeated herself” (30). This moment highlights how her family dismisses her and does not listen to her opinion. Even when she repeats herself, her parents act without her consent: “Ignoring everything she’d tried to say, they’d sent a message balloon to the capital with the morning mail, asking for advice” (32). This dismissal reflects both her family’s refusal to take her seriously as well as Mina’s own lack of confidence, as she does not assert herself and demand to be heard. She recognizes this and frequently gives herself pep talks to be more confident, as when she first arrives at Mytris Lightning School but struggles to believe in her abilities.

These doubts feed her internal conflict between who she is and who she wants to become.