Words on Bathroom Walls

Julia Walton

Words on Bathroom Walls

Julia Walton
50 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Novel
YA
Published in 2017

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.

Character List

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

Major Characters

Adam is a sixteen-year-old high school junior who has recently been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Hoping a new clinical drug trial will suppress his symptoms, he transfers to St. Agatha's Catholic school and decides to keep his condition a secret from his peers. He enjoys cooking because the required concentration helps quiet his mind. While he wants to experience a standard teenage life, he carries lingering anger toward his biological father and wrestles with feelings of isolation.

Key Relationships

Son of Adam's Mom

Stepson of Paul

Romantic Interest of Maya Salvador

Friend of Dwight Olberman

Rival of Ian Stone

Bonded to Rebecca

Bonded to The Mob Boss

Bonded to Jason

Patient of The Therapist

Maya is a highly perceptive student attending St. Agatha's on a scholarship. She harbors a deep distrust of people she considers fake, preferring blunt honesty in her interactions. Balancing her rigorous coursework with her responsibilities on the Academic Team, she also helps care for her twin younger brothers at home. She builds a strong connection with Adam, drawn to his straightforward demeanor.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Adam Petrazelli

Teammate of Dwight Olberman

Harassed by Ian Stone

Observed by Rebecca

Guest of Adam's Mom

Guest of Paul

Ian is a student at St. Agatha's who actively monitors the social hierarchy by collecting embarrassing information about his peers. He hides his own insecurities by exposing the vulnerabilities of others. His family's wealth gives him unearned influence, which he leverages to intimidate classmates who cannot fight back.

Key Relationships

Harasser of Maya Salvador

Classmate of Son Adam's Mom

Classmate of Stepson Paul

Observed by Rebecca

Supporting Characters

Dwight is a bright, talkative student at St. Agatha's who participates enthusiastically in the Academic Team. He approaches situations practically and does not hold onto grudges. Standing out with his fair hair and light-colored clothing, he proves to be a steady presence in the classroom. He easily accepts others as they are.

Key Relationships

Friend of Adam Petrazelli

Teammate of Maya Salvador

Bullied by Ian Stone

Adam's mother is a deeply caring parent who has spent years helping her son manage his schizophrenia. She is newly pregnant and married to Paul. Her primary concern is Adam's well-being, and she desperately wants him to experience a standard high school life without facing prejudice.

Key Relationships

Mother of Adam Petrazelli

Wife of Paul

Professional Contact of The Therapist

Paul is Adam's stepfather. He initially reacted to Adam's schizophrenia diagnosis with fear and hesitation. He actively tries to bridge the emotional gap between himself and his stepson, though he often feels out of his depth regarding mental illness.

Key Relationships

Husband of Adam's Mom

Stepfather of Adam Petrazelli

Rebecca is a tall, visually striking hallucination with long blonde hair and expressive blue eyes. She rarely speaks but serves as a visual representation of Adam's inner intuition. She frequently alerts him to environmental details he subconsciously notices and provides silent comfort during stressful moments.

Key Relationships

Hallucination of Adam Petrazelli

Observer of Maya Salvador

Fellow Hallucination of The Mob Boss

The Mob Boss is the leader of a group of hallucinatory gangsters that populate Adam's mind. He embodies the harsher, more confrontational aspects of Adam's subconscious. He represents the uncomfortable truths and anxieties that Adam refuses to consciously acknowledge about his illness.

Key Relationships

Hallucination of Adam Petrazelli

Fellow Hallucination of Rebecca

Jason is a quiet hallucination who appears to Adam as a tall, naked man. He rarely takes action or interferes with Adam's day. His constant nudity visually represents the part of Adam that feels exposed and vulnerable to the outside world.

Key Relationships

Hallucination of Adam Petrazelli

Rupert and Basil are a pair of large, aggressive hallucinations who manifest when Adam feels trapped or angry. Their dialogue consists entirely of the mean, sarcastic thoughts that Adam wants to express but forces himself to keep bottled up.

Key Relationships

Hallucination of Adam Petrazelli

The therapist is the intended recipient of Adam's ongoing journal entries. Tasked with monitoring Adam's behavior during the clinical drug trial, the therapist provides a silent sounding board for Adam to process his emotions.

Key Relationships

Doctor of Adam Petrazelli

Professional Contact of Adam's Mom