Tyler, the protagonist, is a high school senior who is on probation for vandalizing the school the year prior. Because of the manual labor he has been doing, Tyler has bulked up over the summer and enjoys newfound attention from the student body, particularly girls. Tyler struggles with his own insecurities and managing his feelings of rage, though ultimately has the strength of character to make wise decisions. 

Tyler’s father is a workaholic with high blood pressure who isolates from his family. Bill does not seem to know how to cope with his son’s struggles, so oscillates between ignoring him and raging at him. Bill realizes he must do better for his family by the end of the novel.

Tyler’s younger sister embarks on her freshman year of high school at the beginning of the novel. In contrast to Tyler, she is excited to go to high school and engage in the complicated social hierarchy there. She becomes a cheerleader and dates Yoda, an upperclassman, both of which give her status at school.