Zachary Gray

Zachary Grey
Zachary Grey (right) as depicted on the dust jacket of An Acceptable Time
First appearance	The Moon by Night, 1963
Last appearance	An Acceptable Time,1989
Created by	Madeleine L'Engle
Portrayed by	Jared Padalecki
Information
Nickname(s)	Zach
Occupation	on-again, off-again student
Relatives	unnamed parents

Zachary Grey is a fictional character in the young adult novels of Madeleine L'Engle. He appears in four novels, and is mentioned in at least one more.

Zachary, often called Zach, is a wealthy young man from Los Angeles, California, with parents who show little love for their son or each other, and who seem unable to exert any influence on their son's behavior. Zach is described as having "velvety black" hair, very pale skin, and "steel-grey" eyes. He is considered "gorgeous" by Vicky Austin and is taller than Polly O'Keefe, who considers herself "too tall." Intelligent but erratic in behavior, Zach is "kicked out" of numerous prestigious schools (namely for smoking in the bathroom, cheating as an art form and for poor grades), but demonstrates that he will learn a great deal on a subject that interests him, particularly anthropology. Zach suffers from a heart condition, and is often reckless and self-destructive, but at other times seeks desperately to live. Similarly, he is torn between cynical self-interest and more altruistic desires. Zach pursues relationships with L'Engle protagonists Vicky Austin and later Polly O'Keefe, apparently seeking emotional rescue. In his introductory appearance, he frequently sings "The Merry Minuet" by Sheldon Harnick, a song of black humor and global annihilation. Donald R. Hettinga says of Zachary at this stage that he "looks at human suffering and sees no hope." When his mother dies, he and his father have her body preserved through cryonics in lieu of a "" hope of resurrection. According to Carole F. Chase's study of L'Engle's work, L'Engle considered Zachary to be "a work in progress who will ultimately be redeemed."

In The Moon by Night (1963, ISBN ), Vicky Austin and her family are on a cross-country camping trip when they meet Zachary Grey at a campground. Zach is there with his parents in a luxuriously equipped tent trailer pulled by a brand new, black, station wagon. As he explains to Vicky, his family is camping its way home from Hotchkiss, the school from which Zachary has just been expelled, presumably for poor grades. Zach then pursues Vicky at other campgrounds across the country. Vicky is flattered by Zach's interest, and intrigued as well as discomfited by his cynical attitude. Vicky's younger sister Suzy and older brother John both heartily dislike him, and think that he is dangerous for her. Vicky's father, Dr. Wallace Austin, deduces that Zachary has a history of rheumatic fever that damaged his heart. Several times, Dr. Austin orders Zach to avoid strenuous exercise as he accompanies Vicky and her family in their sightseeing. Eventually Zach goes missing one evening in a game of hide and seek. As the Austins search for him, Zach lures Vicky to a remote mountainside to speak with her privately. When Vicky tries to return to the campsite and her family, an earthquake causes an avalanche, and Zachary is trapped between some rocks. Before and after help arrives, Zach promises Vicky that he will begin to take better care of himself in the future.