Complex Characters In The Reapers Are the Angels

 

        The protagonist in The Reapers Are The Angels is a fifteen year old girl named Temple. Temple is very independent and doesn't like it when other people get into her business. In the beginning of the book Temple is alone and keeps her secrets locked inside of her. By the end of the book Temple has made multiple new friends and has opened up to others. Temple is a dynamic character and shows significant change over the course of the book. Temple also helps to develop the theme of The Reapers Are the Angels. The main theme of this book is that  the right thing to do isn't always the easiest thing to do. Temple is forced to make many decisions between right and wrong in this book and the readers can clearly see her struggle to try and pick the correct choices. Through this the theme is explained. In the text one of Temple's new friends named James asked her to kill his father. James' father had been turned into a zombie but James' grandmother had been unwilling to let go of her son and kept him captive instead. James was done seeing his father suffer and that's why he asked Temple to kill him. Here is a quote where Temple explains that it doesn't feel right to kill her friend's father even though she knows it should be done. "It don't seem right, she continues, the destruction of what a family loves - or even what a family hates for that matter. A household's got its own spooks, and it ain't for strangers to come bullying in to exorcise them"(Bell 107).

 

        The antagonist of the story is named Moses. Moses is a very large and mysterious man who goes after Temple after she kills his brother, Abraham. When Moses is first introduced to the story he knows to watch out for Temple and that she can be just as dangerous as the zombies that have taken over. Once Moses finds out Temple killed his brother he is furious with her and vows that her death will be at his hand. Throughout the book, Temple and Moses cross paths multiple times and Temple always manages to escape. After each time they meet Moses gains a little more respect for Temple and eventually grows to be quite fond of her. However he doesn't abandon his mission to kill her. Temple is forced to be constantly on the run because of Moses coming after her. This propels the story forward and keeps the action going.  Here is a quote spoken to Temple by a woman she meets at a safety camp after she killed Abraham. "God help you, I'm sure [Abraham] deserved whatever you gave him. But now his brother Moses has you on his agenda, and that's a man without an ounce of foolishness to distract him from his set course. And that means we have to get you out of here" (Bell 42). This quote shows how Moses' determination to get Temple forced her on the run and assisted in getting the plot moving.



 Book Review

  
   I found a helpful book review of The Reapers Are The Angels. It includes a brief summary of the book, highlighting key elements to the story such as the main character and the setting. This review also quotes a couple peoples opinions of the book, commenting on its pacing and language. The author of this review also included a captivating quote from the book. I thought this to be a well written and positive review of The Reapers Are The Angels.

The Reapers Are The Angels Book Trailer