Aged 12 to 13 throughout the novel, Jason is the protagonist. He has several alter egos throughout the book: Hangman, who causes his stammer, holding on to words with “N” and “S” sounds; Maggot, who embodies all the degrading insults Jason endures from his classmates; Unborn Twin, who acts as a friend to Jason and sometimes serves as his conscience; and Eliot Bolivar, the pseudonym Jason uses for his poetry.

Jason wants to fit in with his classmates but acknowledges the great divide between them and himself. He is also introspective; left home alone for a day, he decides to take a path through his village as far as it will go. Jason follows his conscience rather than simply doing what is expected, as seen when he abandons his chance at popularity with the Spooks to rescue his friend Moran, and when he returns Ross Wilcox’s wallet. Through these events, Jason comes to recognizes that his bullies aren’t cool boys—they’re cruel and manipulative, such mean antics simply aren’t him. Even when he is at his lowest (being extorted for “popularity lessons”), Jason doesn’t lose his moral ground. Jason at the beginning of the novel is innocent; by the end, he is experienced.