The Cardboard Kingdom

Chad Sell

47 pages 1-hour read

Chad Sell

The Cardboard Kingdom

Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Middle Grade | Published in 2018

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Jack is a creative boy who adopts the alter ego of the Sorceress, finding confidence and power in a villainous, magical role. He frequently orchestrates evil plans and uses his younger sister as a minion, sometimes alienating others before learning to collaborate and form an army of allies.

Key Relationships

Younger Sister of Sam

Son of Jack's Mom

Friend and Neighbor of The Knight

Friend of Becky

Seth is a kind and patient boy dealing with the emotional weight of his parents' separation. He adopts the persona of the Gargoyle to watch over his house and protect his neighborhood at night, using play as a coping mechanism for his stress and exhaustion.

Key Relationships

Son of Seth's Mom

Son of Seth's Dad

Friend and Neighbor of The Animal Queen

Owner and Caretaker of Speedy

Sophie is an energetic girl who struggles under her grandmother's pressure to behave quietly. By adopting the alter ego of the Big Banshee, she reclaims a dismissive insult and embraces her loud, boisterous nature to defend her friends from bullies.

Key Relationships

Granddaughter of Meemaw

Daughter of Sophie's Mom

Defender and Friend of Vijay

Friend of Miguel

Egon is an intelligent, highly logical boy whose strict adherence to science makes it difficult for him to engage in imaginative play. He turns to self-help books to make friends before discovering that he simply needs to find someone who shares his interests.

Key Relationships

Friend of The Scribe

Playmate of Sam

Roy is a slightly older boy who feels pressured to abandon dress-up games and fit in with older teenagers. He lives with his grandmother and often directs his frustrations at the neighborhood children before finding acceptance among them.

Key Relationships

Grandson of Roy's Nanna

Initial Rival turned Friend of Peter

Supporting Characters

Sam is Jack's younger sister who frequently serves as his loyal minion during their games. She is supportive of her brother and helps him improve his Sorceress costume after an embarrassing encounter.

Key Relationships

Younger Sister of Jack (The Sorceress)

Daughter of Jack's Mom

The Knight is Jack's neighbor who initially offends him but quickly makes amends. Refusing to be cast as a traditional princess, she creates her own knight armor and becomes a steadfast ally in the neighborhood games.

Key Relationships

Friend and Neighbor of Jack (The Sorceress)

Ally of Shikha

Shikha is a responsible older sister who uses imaginative play to wrangle her sibling. Taking on the persona of the Huntress, she tracks her brother through the neighborhood and joins the ongoing backyard battles.

Key Relationships

Older Sister of Vijay

Ally of The Knight

Vijay is Shikha's mischievous younger brother. He eagerly adopts the alter ego of the Beast, enjoying the thrill of being chased and engaging in battles alongside the neighborhood kids.

Key Relationships

Younger Brother of Shikha

Alice is a business-minded girl who takes her entrepreneurial endeavors seriously. When faced with competition, she escalates the rivalry before realizing that collaboration is better for everyone, leading to the creation of the Dragon's Head Inn.

Key Relationships

Business Partner of Becky

Becky is a creative maker who simply wants to build cool props for her friends. She eventually partners with Alice to co-manage the Dragon's Head Inn, though she secretly yearns to go on an adventure of her own.

Key Relationships

Business Partner of Alice

Miguel is a thoughtful boy working through complex feelings and struggling to find a play role that suits him. Rejecting the traditional roles of a rescued princess, he creates the dashing persona of the Rogue, allowing him to authentically join the games.

Key Relationships

Friend of Nate

Nate plays the Prince in the neighborhood games and is admired by Miguel. He also acts as a supportive older brother, helping to translate his younger brother's confusing costume into a monster that everyone can interact with.

Key Relationships

Older Brother of The Blob

Friend of Miguel

The Animal Queen is a fiercely territorial but ultimately caring neighbor of Seth. She commands a kingdom of stuffed toys and learns to share her space, showing genuine concern when Seth disappears from their play sessions.

Key Relationships

Friend and Neighbor of Seth (The Gargoyle)

Friend to Speedy

Amanda takes on the persona of the Mad Scientist, eagerly fixing her friends' problems with chaotic results. Her costume choices reflect her deep admiration for her father, leading to an emotional confrontation over cultural expectations.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Amanda's Dad

Connie uses a robot persona and speaks in a monotone voice to shield herself from the social anxiety of making friends. With gentle encouragement from her dad, she takes a risk and invites the neighborhood to a robot-themed birthday party.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Connie's Dad

Peter is a dedicated builder who constructs an intricate cardboard city. When his creation is targeted by a bully, he chooses to adapt his game and invite the aggressor to play, turning a conflict into a powerful alliance.

Key Relationships

Friend of Roy

The Scribe is a quiet, observant boy who enjoys documenting the adventures of the Cardboard Kingdom. He shares Egon's love of books and comics, providing a natural and easy connection.

Key Relationships

The Blob is Nate's younger brother who initially struggles to communicate what his abstract cardboard costume is supposed to be. Once Nate helps modify the suit, he happily joins the older kids' games.

Key Relationships

Younger Brother of Nate

Meemaw is Sophie's grandmother, whose strict and outdated expectations about how girls should behave stifle Sophie's vibrant personality. Her criticisms temporarily cause Sophie to withdraw from playing.

Key Relationships

Grandmother of Sophie (Big Banshee)

Mother of Sophie's Mom

Jack's mother is supportive but occasionally frustrated by the disruptive nature of his Sorceress persona. She tries to offer him an open, non-judgmental space to express his identity.

Key Relationships

Mother of Sam

Seth's mother is working through a difficult separation. She attempts to comfort Seth and encourage him to play with his friends while handling the tension with her estranged partner.

Key Relationships

Estranged Partner of Seth's Dad

Seth's father is separated from the family but repeatedly arrives at the house, causing disruption and anxiety. His volatile presence drives Seth to adopt a vigilant, protective alter ego.

Key Relationships

Estranged Partner of Seth's Mom

Amanda's father is a caring parent who initially disapproves of Amanda's mustache costume due to his own cultural biases. He eventually realizes his mistake and supports her unique self-expression.

Key Relationships

Father of Amanda

Connie's father understands her anxieties and speaks to her on her level. He gently encourages her to socialize by suggesting she host a robot-themed birthday party.

Key Relationships

Father of Connie

Roy's Nanna is his guardian who provides him with a stable, loving environment while his mother is unable to care for him. She handles his frustrations with patience and empathy.

Key Relationships

Grandmother of Roy

Speedy is Seth's energetic dog. His tendency to run off helps break the ice between Seth and the Animal Queen, bringing them together to play.

Key Relationships

Playmate of The Animal Queen

Sophie's mother is an encouraging and affirming presence. She brings Sophie cardboard and validates her big, boisterous personality, directly countering Meemaw's restrictive expectations.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Meemaw