William 'Billy' Williams

Billy is 13 when the novel begins. At this age, Billy is expected to get a job at the local coal mine, Celtic Minerals. Billy is excited to have this job and to be considered a man in his family and among his fellow villagers. Billy goes on to prove himself when he is left in the dark all day, but he does not panic.

Billy is one of the main narrators who had to start working in the coal mines in Aberowen when he is only 13 years old. He is excited to have this job at first but comes to learn about the shoddy working conditions and less than ideal safety measures during a cave fire. To many people, Billy is a hero as he saved many lives. Billy also has a strong commitment to God at the beginning of the novel, but this changes when...