Boli
Boli, a thirteen year old boy, is the narrator in Playing for the Devil’s Fire. In the beginning of the novel, Boli explains that his name is a shortened version of his nickname bolillo. Boli’s real name is Liberio, but he is given this nickname because his parents are bakers. Early in the story, Boli’s parents leave on a short trip to Toluca, but never return. Boli is determined to find his parents or the truth behind their disappearance. Through this journey Boli befriends a luchador, Chicano, and sees the vulgar violence of the cartel in Mexico.
Mosca
Mosca is Boli’s best friend and is known because of his possession of the Devil’s Fire marble. Throughout the novel, boys challenge Mosca to win the Devil’s Fire, but Mosca defeats each of his competitors. Mosca is unfortunately killed after by the corruption in the city and his marble ultimately finds its home in the hands of Boli.
Chicano
Chicano is a Mexican wrestler, or a luchador, who visits the town where Boli and Mosca live. After Chicano’s match he finds himself in trouble and ultimately begins living with Boli and his family. As Chicano collects himself, he helps Boli in the boy’s search to find his parents. Boli has enormous faith in Chicano and this faith encourages Chicano to become a town hero. At the end of the narrative, Chicano is tragically murdered for facing the cartel.
Gaby
Gaby is Boli’s sister. She goes to the police after her parents have been gone and extraordinary amount of time, but is met with indifference. As the town changes, Gabi meets one of the new people moving into town and begins to date him. The boyfriend represents the positivity in expansion but too is eventually killed by the cartel.
Abuela
Abuela is Boli and Gaby’s grandmother. Boli’s family moved in with Abuela when her memory began to fail. Abuela seems to mentally live in the past during a time where her husband was alive and the two lived in Veracruz. Abuela, Gaby, and Boli move together after the tragic events transpire in their town.
