Here we have character sketches of White Dolphin by Gill Lewis
Introduction
Gill Lewis’s White Dolphin is a powerful novel that beautifully explores themes of loss, courage, friendship, disability, and environmental responsibility. Its characters are deeply human, emotionally layered, and unforgettable. Each character—whether young or old, gentle or flawed—plays a vital role in shaping the story’s message. Below are detailed character sketches of the major characters that highlight their personalities, struggles, and growth throughout the novel.
Character Sketch of Kara Wood
Kara Wood is one of the central characters of the novel White Dolphin by Gill Lewis. She lives with her father in a small fishing village near Cornwall. Kara suffers from dyslexia, which makes her academic life challenging. Her mother, a marine biologist, mysteriously disappeared during a research trip to the Solomon Islands, an event that has left a deep emotional scar on Kara’s heart and profoundly affected her school life.
Kara and her father live in her Aunt Bev’s house as they cannot afford their own accommodation. She avoids school whenever possible because Jake Evans, Ethan, and a few other students bully her and make fun of her learning difficulty. Despite this, Kara faces negativity with remarkable patience, resilience, and quiet strength.
Moana, a boat built by Kara’s parents, holds immense emotional value for her and her father, symbolising family, memories, and hope. Kara is exceptionally kind and empathetic. When Felix behaves rudely towards Daisy, Kara immediately consoles the little girl, revealing her protective and caring nature. She has a deep emotional connection with dolphins, as they remind her of her missing mother.
Kara is strongly opposed to dredging and firmly believes in protecting the sea, which she considers the home of countless marine creatures. She forms a special bond with Angel, the calf of the white dolphin. Kara not only rescues Angel but also stays with the rescue team to ensure her complete recovery. When Dougie Evans kills Angel’s mother, Kara feels the loss intensely, as she personally relates to the pain of losing a parent.
One of Kara’s most admirable qualities is her selflessness. She risks her own life to save Jake and Ethan—despite them being her bullies. Her bravery, compassion, and sacrifice ultimately soften Dougie Evans’s hardened heart and lead him toward repentance. Kara emerges as a symbol of kindness, courage, and emotional strength.
Here we have character sketches of White Dolphin by Gill Lewis
Character Sketch of Felix
Felix is one of the most inspiring characters in White Dolphin by Gill Lewis. He is the only son of wealthy parents and suffers from cerebral palsy, which restricts his physical movement. However, his disability never defines him. Felix is an expert diver, technologically skilled, and highly intelligent.
Initially, Felix is unhappy when his parents move him from London to a quiet Cornish fishing village. He misses city life, his friends, and strong internet connectivity. Gradually, however, he develops a deep interest in marine wildlife, sailing, and environmental conservation. His passion helps him form a strong friendship with Kara.
Felix plays a crucial role in rescuing the baby dolphin and offers his technical expertise to assist the rescue team at the Blue Pool. His intelligence becomes evident when he successfully unlocks Kara’s mother’s memory stick and uncovers vital information. The documentary created by Kay (Kara’s mother), discovered and presented by Felix, becomes a turning point during the school assembly.
Felix also displays immense courage. Along with Kara, he follows Jake and Ethan during the storm and helps rescue them, despite the danger involved. His compassion and bravery contribute significantly to Dougie Evans’s transformation. Although Felix may appear sharp-tongued and blunt, he possesses a deeply sensitive and generous heart.
Felix proves that physical disability is no barrier to achievement when determination and passion are present. He rightfully deserves to be considered the true hero of the novel.
Here we have character sketches of White Dolphin by Gill Lewis
Character Sketch of Daisy
Daisy is one of the most endearing characters in White Dolphin by Gill Lewis. She is a five-year-old girl, yet remarkably confident, courageous, and emotionally intelligent for her age. She is Aunt Bev’s daughter, and her father works for Dougie Evans.
Daisy is affectionate, generous, and warm-hearted. She willingly shares her room with Kara and becomes her trusted companion. Kara confides in Daisy, knowing she will never betray her trust. Daisy often cheers Kara up by drawing pictures of the white dolphin, reflecting her creativity and innocence.
She is enthusiastic about the rescue of the white dolphin and names the calf “Angel,” believing dolphins are angels of the sea. Daisy displays admirable moral courage when she stands up to Jake and Ethan after they humiliate Felix. Despite her young age, she understands the difference between right and wrong.
Daisy is also responsible and quick-thinking. When Kara and Felix go to rescue Jake and Ethan, Daisy promptly informs her father, ensuring help can reach them in time. Her optimism, loyalty, and emotional maturity make her a lovable and memorable character in the story.
Character Sketch of Dougie Evans
Dougie Evans is a major character in White Dolphin by Gill Lewis and initially serves as the antagonist of the novel. He is a wealthy businessman who owns fishing trawlers and operates on a large scale without regard for environmental laws or marine life.
Dougie lost his elder son in a tragic accident, which left him bitter and emotionally hardened. He wrongly blames Kara’s mother for the incident and harbours deep resentment toward Kara’s family. His younger son, Jake, reflects his father’s cruelty by bullying Kara at school.
Driven by greed, Dougie wants the dredging ban lifted to increase his profits. He exploits natural resources recklessly and treats his workers harshly. Though outwardly charming and persuasive, he is manipulative and self-centred.
However, Dougie undergoes a significant transformation when Jake’s life is endangered during the storm. Kara and Felix’s bravery open his eyes to the consequences of his actions. He repents, re-employs Daisy’s father, and offers Kara’s father a job. By the end of the novel, Dougie appears kinder, more responsible, and willing to protect marine life.
Character Sketch of Ms Penluna
Ms Penluna, often referred to as the “Bird Lady,” is a mysterious yet compassionate character in White Dolphin by Gill Lewis. She lives alone in a small, isolated cottage and is widely misunderstood by the villagers.
Physically, she appears frail and eccentric, with bony fingers, untidy clothing, and a stern expression. Due to rumours and superstitions, people wrongly believe she communicates with spirits or mistreats birds. In reality, Ms Penluna is a devoted animal rescuer who works tirelessly to care for injured creatures.
Though she appears harsh and aloof, Ms Penluna is kind, wise, and deeply empathetic. She shows particular warmth toward Kara and encourages her to listen to the sea and the dolphins for answers about her mother. Her advice reflects spiritual depth and emotional sensitivity.
Ms Penluna symbolises how society often misjudges people based on appearances. Her love for animals and her gentle guidance reveal her as one of the novel’s most humane and insightful characters.
Character Sketch of Jim Wood
Jim Wood is a significant supporting character in White Dolphin by Gill Lewis. He is Kara’s father and a struggling fisherman whose life has been deeply affected by personal loss, financial hardship, and learning difficulties. Jim is dyslexic, which limits his opportunities and adds to his daily struggles, yet he faces life with quiet resilience and dignity.
After the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Kay Wood—a marine biologist and the emotional backbone of the family—Jim’s life begins to fall apart. Kay was not only his life partner but also his greatest source of strength and support. Her absence leaves a deep emotional void in Jim’s heart, and he continues to cling to the hope that she might return one day. This lingering hope becomes a point of criticism from his sister Bev, who believes Jim should accept reality and move on. However, Jim’s inability to let go highlights his deep love, loyalty, and emotional vulnerability rather than weakness.
Financially, Jim is in debt. The burden of loans, combined with the loss of his boat Moana—which he had built with Kay—pushes him further into despair. Selling Moana is one of the most painful sacrifices of his life, as it symbolises not only his livelihood but also his shared dreams with his wife. Despite this, Jim never gives up. He works double shifts, takes on exhausting jobs, and travels long distances for interviews, such as the one in Exeter, all in an effort to repay his debts and secure a stable future for Kara.
As a father, Jim is deeply caring and protective, even though he struggles to express his emotions openly. He worries constantly about Kara’s education, her dyslexia, and the bullying she faces at school. His own experiences make him sensitive to her pain, and he tries—often silently—to shield her from further hardship. Jim’s struggles also teach Kara resilience, empathy, and strength, shaping her into a compassionate and courageous individual.
Jim Wood is portrayed as an honest, hardworking, and morally upright man. Unlike Dougie Evans, he values integrity over profit and respects the sea as a source of life rather than exploitation. His eventual acceptance into a boat-building course is a turning point in his life, restoring his confidence and offering hope despite his dyslexia. It symbolises personal growth, second chances, and the triumph of perseverance over adversity.
In essence, Jim Wood represents the quiet heroism of ordinary people. His character reflects themes of endurance, love, loss, and hope. Though broken by circumstances, he never loses his humanity. Jim Wood stands as a powerful reminder that true strength lies not in wealth or success, but in resilience, hard work, and unwavering love for one’s family.
Hope you enjoyed the character sketches of White Dolphin by Gill Lewis
Conclusion
The characters of White Dolphin are the heart and soul of the novel. Through their struggles, growth, and relationships, Gill Lewis delivers powerful messages about empathy, resilience, environmental responsibility, and the strength of the human spirit. Each character—whether brave like Kara, determined like Felix, innocent like Daisy, flawed like Dougie, or misunderstood like Ms Penluna—adds depth and meaning to this unforgettable story.