Profile for Brady Allred

Brady Darrell Allred

Novel: The Narrows Escape Time & Setting: Summer 1983

Birth date/place: August 3, 1971; Glendora, CA

Married: not yet

Homes: Northland, CA (since 1971)

Hair: bright blond Eyes: yellowish-green Facial: round

Weight: Height: Build: short, stout Skin tone: very fair

Unique Physical Characteristic: looks younger than he is “baby-faced”; ambidextrous; always wears a baseball cap (Dodgers)

General Health: good; has bad allergies in springtime

Positive traits: good hand-eye coordination, above average musician (but only average interest), imaginative, good deductive reasoning, good in school (but doesn't apply himself fully), out-going with family, courteous & respectful, good sportsmanship, loyal

Negative traits: self-conscious, easily embarrassed (particularly around girls), reserved in large groups, naive, overly competitive, prideful, fear of deep water (dislikes swimming & other water sports), impatient, lazy

Favorites: Color: blue Food: lasagna Drink: lemonade

Music: soft rock (but never listens to it; prefers listening to baseball on the radio)

Literature: Hardy Boys, Choose-your-own-adventure, Jules Verne, classics

Movies: Star Wars, Indiana Jones

Clothing: casual (T-shirt, jeans, shorts, tennis shoes, baseball cap)

Hobbies/Interests: collects sports cards (especially baseball), Star Wars action figures, GI Joe comic books; reading; likes to watch baseball & football (Dodgers, Broncos, Angels ('86), BYU, Lakers – only to rival Devin's Jazz); hiking and camping; games (Risk, Monopoly, etc.); amusements parks; U.S. History; notices girls (but in secret)

Education: Will attend Prospector Jr. High; plays trumpet in Jazz band; 3.4 GPA

Religion: LDS

Financial status: does yard work for money (but only because his dad makes him)

Politics: Republican (uninterested)

Father: Darrell career: History teacher (Northland Jr. High) birthday: 5/19/40 car: “golden” (“puke yellow”) Mercury - “The Banana Boat”

Mother: Doris career: homemaker (HS home economics teacher) birthday: 6/28/43 car: blue Dodge van with white stripe - “The Bus”

Siblings: Lindsey (10/5/73), Jared (2/29/76), Christina (8/30/80)

Pets: Peter; used to have dog (Firefly), but the family got rid of it because it bite kids

Home life: pleasant, with occasional arguments; shares room with Jared

Friends: Trey & Devin (cousins); Larry Gibson (friend from church); Rodrigo Hernandez (neighbor friend who is younger)

Favorite possessions: entire Star Wars action figure collection

Car: no

Greatest accomplishment: winning city soccer championship with friends Larry & Rodrigo

Greatest regret: near drowning incident

Short term goals: wants to solve mysteries like the Hardy Boys

Long term goals: always changes: detective, amusement park designer, pro baseball player, author,...

Fears: water (particularly when he can't touch bottom), dogs, bullies

Worst problem: being teased about his weight, fear of water

Secrets: confidential for now

Philosophy: Choose the right

How changing: Always avoids bullies, but starts to follow Devin's lead

Influenced by (Heroes): family and friends – particularly Devin & Trey, and his parents; fears; public heroes (Steve Young, Jon Keyworth, Steve Garvey, George Lucas, Howard W. Hunter, Spencer W. Kimball)

What does this character want more than anything and why? Brady wants to overcome his fears so that he won't be teased anymore.

If you were meeting this character for the first time, what would strike you most about him/her? His bright blond hair. He actually wouldn't stand out because he is reserved around people he doesn't know well.

Why will the reader care about this character? He has good intentions, and they'll want him to succeed.

Why is this character in the story? He is one of the three main protagonists.

Write a diary entry for this character (entry into the novel): We're going to an Allred Family Reunion, and I can't wait. Devin, Trey, and I are going to make the greatest fort in the world, and have a blast playing horseshoes, and games, and writing in our DTB book. Who knows, maybe we'll even find a mystery to solve. After the reunion we are hiking the Virgin Narrows. It should be fun. I just wish we didn't have to hike through the river cause we'll get all wet. Anyway, my dad will be there, and he's done the hike before, so we should be fine.