Freaky Friday is Annabel's story, and all the other characters play comparatively minor roles. Mr. Andrews is in advertising; his main accounts are Fosphree detergent and Francie's Fortified Fish Fingers. Mrs. Andrews has a good figure and an even better sense of humor. Six-year-old Ben (also known as Ape Face), unlike Annabel, has blue eyes, long eyelashes, curly hair, a sunny disposition, and—worst of all—a neat room.

Annabel, who tells the story, comes across as bright, unconventional, and unhappy. She expresses strong admiration for her mother's appearance and poise, balanced by an equally strong dislike of nearly everything about her little brother. A surface sophistication, great verbal wit, and a high IQ mask a very vulnerable thirteen-year-old.

Annabel's father plays a rather small part in the book, mistaking her (understandably) for her mother at the beginning, telephoning about a dinner invitation for...