Steven, the novel’s protagonist, is a 13-year-old 8th-grader whose life revolves around drums and girls. Steven is very witty, sarcastic, and self-deprecating. He is known by his friends and family for his sense of humor, and his narrative is full of jokes and witty remarks. He is also passionate about music and takes his position as a drummer in the All-City Jazz Band very seriously. Because he is one of the band’s youngest members, he has been nicknamed “the Peasant,” often shortened to “Pez.” Like many adolescents, he is self-conscious and insecure about his appearance. He describes himself as “a skinny geek” (2) with “mouse-brown cowlick-y hair, glasses that are about an inch thick, and braces that look like I tried to swallow a train wreck” (4). He is also very concerned with how he is perceived by girls, particularly schoolmate Renee Albert. Steven’s relationship with his little brother is also an important part of his life, although Jeffrey is eight years younger and often gets on his nerves. When Jeffrey is diagnosed with cancer, however, Steven is forced to recognize how important his little brother is to him.