Bobbi Meeks

Character Analysis

So Bobbi is kind of a jerk—and if she were being honest, we think she'd agree. And that's because Bobbi is a jerk on purpose. It's her way of rebelling against her religious family, of infuriating her mother and making it super clear to everyone else that just because her dad's a pastor doesn't mean she's a good kid. A few years older than Mibs, she's in the thick of her teenage years, trying to figure out who she is and where she fits in the world.

Rebel Yell

Bobbi makes one thing quite obvious: she's a rebel. She mouths off, sports temporary tattoos, stows away on a bus, kicks other kids, and generally tries to act rough and tough. Heck, she even has a crush on the wild child of the Beaumont clan, a.k.a. Rocket. Before you write Bobbi off, though, check out how Lill explains her to Mibbs:

"But I'll tell you a secret about sixteen… Sixteen can feel older and scarier than forty-two, which is what I am. I think Bobbi's just feeling sharp-edged right now, so don't you mind her." (16.15)

As Lill explains to Mibs, being sixteen is hard. It's a time when childhood is clearly behind you, and yet adulthood looms large and new. Everything—from feelings to bodies—is changing, and it's confusing, exhausting, frustrating, and more. So though Bobbi puts on a tough exterior, it's probably just because she's got so much turmoil inside. It's great that Lill takes the time to explain this to Mibs because it helps Mibs better understand Bobbi and teaches her that there's often more to people than meets the eye.

Though Bobbi's definitely not a kid anymore, she's got a lot left to learn about the way the world works. One thing she doesn't understand is that adulthood is marked by maturity—anyone can seem older, but control, responsibility, and kindness are hallmarks of adulthood… not being brashness and cold behavior. So though Bobbi's trying to walk the walk, she isn't exactly talking the talk. Check it out:

"I don't tend," said Bobbi, sounding snarly and sarcastic with her lip pulled into a sneer. "What do I look like? A nurse?" (13.11)

Pro tip: Actual adults help out willingly when they're needed. So though Bobbi's trying to seem older, wiser, and dominant over everyone around her, at this point she actually shows how young she is emotionally. Oops.

Two-Faced

The angel with a devil tail (fake) tattoo that Bobbi sports for much of the book is a pretty good representation of her, except it's a bit reversed. Instead of being innocent and sweet with a nasty core, Bobbi looks like a harsh, angry person who's actually really nice when you get to know her.

In this way Bobbi represents a pretty important idea in Savvy: that things and people aren't always what they seem. Bobbi seems like she's only out for herself, that she's needling Mibs to get secrets from her and that she can't be bothered to help anyone else, but once she softens up and trusts the gang a bit, she becomes a leader, helping with Samson and advocating for the Beaumonts. Look at what happens when she takes Samson to the bathroom:

"I'll take him," said Bobbi, surprising everyone and standing up to take Samson's hand. "Someone's got to put the kid out of his misery." (29.6)

Contrast this scene to earlier in the book when Bobbi wouldn't tend to the boys' wounds though Lester asked her to. This scene comes much later, and by now Bobbi realizes that the situation is difficult for everyone, and so though her nasty behavior might make her feel better about herself in the short term, helping everyone out and being a part of the team in a meaningful way is ultimately the way to go.