Tunnel of Bones

V. E. Schwab

Tunnel of Bones

V. E. Schwab
48 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Middle Grade
Published in 2019

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Download PDF

Character List

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

Major Characters

Cassidy is a 12-year-old girl with a round face, brown hair, and an antique camera worn constantly around her neck. Following a near-drowning incident the previous year, she gained the ability to cross into the Veil, a ghostly dimension overlapping the living world. She feels a profound sense of duty to find trapped spirits and help them move on. Her impulsive nature often pushes her into dangerous situations to protect innocent bystanders from paranormal harm.

Key Relationships

Best friend of Jacob Ellis Hale

Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Blake

Mentee of Lara Chowdhury

Ally of Adele

Jacob is a 12-year-old ghost permanently dressed in worn jeans and a superhero T-shirt. Because he saved Cassidy from drowning, the two share a unique psychic bond that allows him to read her mind and exist in the physical world. He acts as a cautious, humorous foil to her recklessness. He constantly worries about her safety while hiding his own fears about his growing spectral strength.

Key Relationships

Protector and friend of Cassidy Blake

Mistrusted by Lara Chowdhury

Thomas is a dangerously powerful poltergeist presenting as a young boy in early 20th-century clothing. Separated from the memory of his own identity and death, he operates entirely on chaotic energy and anger. He views the physical world as a playground for violent mayhem, creating accidents that threaten Cassidy and the citizens of Paris.

Key Relationships

Hostile target of Cassidy Blake

Opponent of Jacob Ellis Hale

Younger brother of Richard Laurent

Distant relative of Adele

Cassidy's parents operate as a charismatic pair of paranormal investigators, pairing his scholarly historical knowledge with her talent for storytelling. They travel the globe exploring famously haunted locations for their television show. Ironically, they remain completely unaware that their daughter possesses actual supernatural abilities, viewing their ghostly investigations through a purely theoretical lens.

Key Relationships

Parents of Cassidy Blake

Employers of Pauline Deschamp

Employers of Anton

Employers of Annette

Supporting Characters

Lara is a blunt, highly intelligent peer from Edinburgh who shares Cassidy's ability to cross into the spirit dimension. Operating with significantly more experience, she functions as a vital off-site advisor. She translates French clues, identifies the nature of the poltergeist, and coordinates the delivery of protective magical supplies to aid her friend.

Key Relationships

Mentor to Cassidy Blake

Distrustful of Jacob Ellis Hale

Pauline is a polite Parisian local hired to escort the television production to famous historical sites like the Catacombs. She publicly identifies as a skeptic who rejects the existence of ghosts. Privately, she exhibits intense nervousness around haunted locations and relies on protective charms.

Key Relationships

Tour guide for Mr. and Mrs. Blake

Guide for Cassidy Blake

Adele is a young Parisian girl who holds crucial historical information about her family's past. Eager to involve herself in the supernatural investigation, she provides physical evidence and historical context regarding a local tragedy. Her enthusiasm for ghost stories drives her to offer translation assistance and local knowledge.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Sylvaine Laurent

Distant relative of Thomas Alain Laurent

Sylvaine is a Parisian woman guarding the painful history of her grandfather's brother. She fiercely protects her family's privacy and refuses to discuss the events that occurred in the Catacombs, carrying the intergenerational grief resulting from a childhood accident.

Key Relationships

Mother of Adele

Granddaughter of Richard Laurent

Richard is a boy from the early 20th century who snuck into the underground tunnels to play hide-and-seek with his brother. He spent the rest of his life blaming himself for the tragic accident that occurred in the dark.

Key Relationships

Older brother of Thomas Alain Laurent

Grandfather of Sylvaine Laurent

Anton is half of the sibling camera crew responsible for filming the reality television program. He follows the hosts through dark tunnels and historic opera houses to capture engaging content for viewers.

Key Relationships

Brother of Annette

Employee of Mr. and Mrs. Blake

Annette is a member of the television production crew filming in France. She works alongside her brother to record the hosts as they narrate ghost stories in eerie underground locations.

Key Relationships

Sister of Anton

Employee of Mr. and Mrs. Blake

Grim is the family's pet cat, brought along for their European travels. His presence serves as a convenient scapegoat when invisible supernatural forces cause destruction in their hotel room.

Key Relationships