Todd Hewitt is a curious, impulsive, and rather restless young man. He has a fun-loving and somewhat sarcastic personality, though he can also appear insecure and act without thinking. He is loyal and protective, with a strong sense of justice. Despite trying to project confidence, he often harbors doubts about himself and about right and wrong. He is intelligent and observant, learning quickly from his experiences. His character combines a rebellious, jokey attitude with a sensitive, kind-hearted side. He frequently tries to act like an adult. He was raised by his adoptive parents, Ben and Cillian. He is eighteen years old and illiterate. He has a dog named Manchee. He had never seen a woman in person because David Prentiss—the mayor of Prentisstown—claimed that women had died during the Spackle attack, leading people to believe there were no women left in the New World; this was actually a lie, but most men believed him, and Todd is one of them. Todd lives in Prentisstown, in the New World.