Alex Bermudez Character Analysis

Alex is the former sergeant-at-arms of a prominent motorcycle gang. At the beginning of the novel, when he’s in prison, he’s Eli’s pen pal. In his letters, Alex tells Eli about prison life, counsels Eli to stay in school and get good grades (so Eli doesn’t end up in prison himself), and encourages Eli to work toward becoming a journalist. Eli ends their correspondence when he’s 13, when he moves in with Dad. Years later, Eli notices a strange man watching him from a yellow Mustang—and on the day that Mum comes to live with Dad, Alex arrives at Dad’s house at the same time as Teddy comes to take Mum away with him. Alex stands up for Mum and threatens to send gang members after Teddy if he approaches Mum again. This is the first time that Eli has actually gotten to meet Alex in the flesh. Alex is a tall, handsome man who wears tailored suits. He brings Eli a Dictaphone, as he wants to help Eli achieve his childhood dream of becoming a journalist. When Eli says breaking into the field is difficult, Alex gives a four-hour interview so that Eli can write a story and present it to Brian Robertson, the editor-in-chief of The Courier-Mail. Alex also helps August start a charity that allows wealthy criminals—like himself—give back to their communities.