Phil

About Phil

Phil is only four years old, but he scores near the top of Grace Field's tests and understands far more than the adults realise. Cheerful and adored by everyone, he becomes the emotional heart of the youngest children. His quiet courage, staying behind so the older children can escape, is one of the story's most moving threads.

Appearance

Phil is a very small boy with dark skin, short black hair and big, cheerful eyes. He wears the Grace Field uniform sized for the youngest children and is usually smiling, often at Emma's side or being carried by an older child.

Personality

Phil is bright, sweet and unusually perceptive for a four-year-old. He loves his family at the house, asks sharp questions and faces frightening news with a courage that surprises the older children.

Background & Story

Phil scores near the top of the house tests despite being only four, which marks him as one of Grace Field's most promising young children. Because the escape plan can only take children old enough to survive the journey, the youngest, Phil among them, face a painful decision about who goes and who waits. Phil's understanding of that choice, and his bravery about it, is one of the first season's most emotional threads.

Key Relationships

• Emma: The older sister figure he adores and trusts with the truth about the escape.

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