Silas is Pony’s protagonist and first-person narrator. He is 12 years old for the bulk of the novel. Silas is physically small for his age, but he is smart, curious, capable, and loving. Silas develops The Impact of Love and Loss because with each new loss that he experiences, the more he learns to love and care for others. Far from shutting down, Silas finds himself opening up emotionally with each person’s death or disappearance. Silas’s experiences also highlight The Tangible Effects of the Supernatural because he has the unique ability to see and speak to ghosts. He has had this ability since he was a baby, so it seems natural to him. To Silas, the biggest wonder in his story is not the fact that he can see ghosts but the way that love triumphs over everything. His father’s choice to create a new identity and conceal his past as Mac Boat is also a mystery to Silas, but ultimately, he realizes that this choice was made out of love.

Silas’s experiences also reflect The Journey of Self-Discovery and Personal Growth because as he grows more mature, he also becomes more independent and responsible, making choices and creating a moral code on his own terms while honoring those he has lost.