Naomi Soledad León Outlaw is the novel’s narrator and protagonist. A shy, soft-spoken fifth-grader, her name gives the novel its title and describes her character development. León is Spanish for lion. When a new girl at school named Blanca gives Naomi the nickname “Naomi the lion,” Naomi knows it doesn’t fit her character. For a moment she believes Blanca might be joking, but realizes “she wasn’t making fun, just saying it matter-of-fact” (54). According to Gram’s philosophy on speaking positively so that positive things come to be, Naomi’s gaining this nickname signifies the beginning of her transformation.

At the beginning of the novel, Naomi considers herself a worrier. She keeps a lot of lists in a notebook, including a list of things she worries about. Others, like lists of splendid words, funny names, and favorite Spanish words provide insight into Naomi’s sense of humor and her appreciation of beauty. As the plot develops, Naomi faces challenges that force her to summon her bravery and find her voice. She finds herself speaking up for her brother, and later in court, she stands up to her mother, Skyla Jones. At the end of the novel, her school librarian observes, “before you were a mouse, but now you have the countenance of lioness” (243), indicating that Naomi’s transformation is complete.