Content Warning: This section references violence, death, police brutality, and systemic racism.

The novel’s protagonist, Noah, is a thoughtful and kind teenager who cares for and supports his friends and family. A lifelong fan of baseball, he halts his efforts to earn a place on the high school baseball team, coming to the realization that he does not possess the necessary skills. In this way, he contrasts with his best friend, Walt/Swing, an optimistic dreamer who refuses to be deterred by Noah’s realist logic. Unlike Walt/Swing, who is daring with a bold personality, Noah is reserved and thoughtful, preferring the closeness of his intimate circle of friends and feeling no need to be popular. He is caring and respectful to his parents, evidenced in the care he takes in choosing a birthday gift for his mother and by his reluctance to break the rules they set when they leave town, despite pressure from Walt/Swing to throw a party. Throughout, Noah remains a reliable and dedicated supporter of Walt/Swing, cheering him on in his quest to make the baseball team (despite his awareness of Walt/Swing’s lack of talent). Noah also trusts Walt/Swing and allows himself to be guided by Walt/Swing towards achieving his own goals.