Main characters

Here is a list of some of the more significant characters:

Jimmy Michael Miller--our 9-year-old protagonist; he is often riddled with guilt and self-doubt; wants to please others; wants people to believe he's smarter than he actually is.

Annie (Anastasia) Marie Marshall--Jimmy's best friend; also 9 years old; she can be manipulative and abrasive; survivor of significant physical abuse and neglect.

William McDonnell--Main antagonist; director of Etyouth and overly egotistical

Major Camp--Head of security for Etyouth; McDonnell's right-hand man

Betsy Shafer--Annie's grandmother and legal guardian

Colin Richard Stevens--Annie's 5-year-old half-brother; lacks a great deal of self-control; has a speech impediment that gets worse when he gets excited; survivor of physical abuse and neglect

Kathleen Stevens--Annie's and Colin's mother; recovering addict; lost all of her parental rights

Robert James Miller--Jimmy's father who is killed by Etyouth

Mikayla Jones--Annie's antagonistic classmate; bully

Marcus Julian Welborne--Jimmy's friend; Poster child for childhood obesity

Joey--Marcus' best friend

Susan Jane Miller--Jimmy's mother; died of ovarian cancer