The Passage By: Justin Cronin
written by: Gregory Silverman
Setting
Characterization
Character Analysis - Amy Harper Bellafonte
Also known as "The Girl From Nowhere". Her mother abandons her at a convent, where she forms a bond with one of the nuns, Sister Lacey Antoinette Kudoto. Amy is quickly targeted as a test subject by the secret government program known as Project Noah, and is subsequently kidnapped by Bradford Wolgast and Philip Doyle. They eventually decide to turn themselves in to save her. However, Richards manages to kidnap all three of them and Amy is given the final, refined version of the virus.
When the original master Virals break out of the Colorado facility, Amy is rescued by Wolgast and resides with him in an abandoned summer camp in Oregon. After Wolgast supposedly dies from radiation poisoning, she resides with an unnamed family, and later an unnamed woman. She then wanders alone throughout the North American Pacific region for decades, often feeling very lonely, but eventually settles in the vicinity of the First Colony. When she comes to First Colony she still looks like a teenager and has amazing healing properties. Amy only talks through her mind for a period, telepathically. She can also communicate with animals and the virals. When she does begin speaking, her behavior and communication style comes across as quirky and slightly "off" to the members of the First Colony. It is also revealed that the Twelve and Zero know of her, and seem to be searching for her. A tracking chip is found embedded in her neck, and she travels with the First Colony Apostles to find the broadcast location. She eventually locates the original Colorado facility where Lacey has taken up residence, and is given the remaining strains of the virus. Following Lacey's sacrifice, Babcock's death and Alicia's transformation, Amy chooses to burn the viral strains.
Amy begins work at an orphanage in the Texas Republic until she is overcome by severe abdominal pain. She travels with Greer to visit Carter and then to The Homeland. After her visit with Carter she appears as a fully adult woman. She poses as the leader of the insurgency in order to get close to the Twelve. At her staged execution, Amy transforms into a viral and with the help of the viral Brad Wolgast, attacks the Twelve. She shows a lot of perseverance and bravery through all of this.
Brad Wolgast
Doyle
Babcock
Babcock was a death row inmate convicted of murdering his own abusive mother before becoming infected. He is described as being much larger than the other virals and possesses the ability to influence weak-willed people. While on death row, it was widely whispered that he was dangerously insane and could never stop talking; as a viral he retains this unnerving quirk, never ceasing to make clicking and gurgling noises. Babcock manipulates the weaker-minded to kill each other over a three-night period. He controls a large group of virals known as The Many as well as controlling some of the citizens of the Haven, from whom he takes human and cattle sacrifices every New Moon.
Peter Jaxon
Theo's younger brother, who leaves with the other First Colony members for Colorado. After living in his brother's shadow his entire life, he realizes that his mother viewed him as the stronger of the two brothers. Amy initially communicates with him telepathically until she remembers how to speak. Over the course of the book his personality darkens, his mounting responsibilities weighing heavy on his mind. He has a love for Alicia Donadio, who trusts him implicitly. He tries to infect himself with the virus in an attempt to more effectively fight off the other main virals but is stopped by Amy.