CharacterCivil PhysicalMoral

Tobias/Jack Wolff10 years old at the beginning of the book (1995)

Has an older brother and parents (divorced)

Changed his name to Jack after Jack London

Is friends Terry and Terri, Chuck and Arthur

17 years old at the end of the book. N/ALiar, Thief, Cheat, Criminal, Alcoholic, Vandal

Victim of domestic violence, Dwight abuses him by making him husk nuts

Despite all of his bad qualities as Jack, the real Toby shows through, as he does not want to leave for Paris and leave behind his mother. Also he does not want to be promiscuous he believes that he deserves true love.

He wants to be manly and wants to be seen as manly

Kind, compassionate, caring and protective of his mother.

Hes been through a lot so hes more mature than most boys his age; he was forced to mature for the sake of his mother.

Infatuated with Norma.

Takes an interest to anyone who shares something in common with his

Rosemary Was married to Arthur, Roy and Dwight

Mother to Jack

Child to an abusive father.

EmPretty

Beautiful Tends to be attracted and attract volatile and violent men or men just like her father.

Good at rifle shooting.

She loves her son a lot, and she knows all the bad things her son does as she questions Jack before he goes to school asking if he got into any trouble. She doesn't believe that Jack would get into Hill.

She puts up with Dwight, for the sake of Jack. She needs that financial stability. Rosemary is quite similar to her son; she too was a victim of domestic abuse.

Rosemary knows that Jack and his father are of the same character.

Dwight Male

Father to Norma, Pearl and SkipperGreasy, Oily and Short.

Curly brown hair

Sad restless brown eyes

Smells of Gasoline

Legs are small for his thick chested body

Wears two toned shoesLikes to assert his dominance using violence.

He is somewhat racist, as he does not like it when Rosemary beats him in rifle shooting. It shows that Rosemary is stronger than him.

Because of his need for dominance he makes Jacks childhood unhappy. He degrades everyone down and makes them feel lesser than they really are.

He is brutal and cruel, he forced Jack to husk nuts without gloves and beats him up often.

He is dishonest and taunting. Dwight takes Rosemarys and Jacks money and spends it on himself.

Geoffrey WolffSon to Arthur Wolff and brother to Toby/Jack.

Student of Princeton.

N/AGeoffrey is kind and is in custody of his father.

He helps Jack to apply for private schools as he does not want Jack to suffer anymore abuse from Dwight.

When they meet in the summer, Geoffrey shows he truly cares for Jack.

Arthur Gayle Overweight

Son to Mr and Mrs Gayle. His father is kind and easy going whereas his mother is strict.

Has a dog named Pepper.

Friend to Jack. Supposedly a sissy because he does not like fights.

His sexuality?

A very sensitive boy, and as a result cannot easily become friends with Jack.

Arthur WolffMarried to a millionairesDivorced RosemaryJailed in the end Goes crazy in the end Shares bad traits with JackAsserts his dominance with violence, which is why Rosemary is attracted to him.

Chuck BolgerSon of a ministerShortThick chestedBlue eyesRed cheeksLooks like his mother Gentle, alcoholic, promiscuous, he knocks up Tina.

Still has some sort of standards for love, does not want to marry Tina.

Shares some of Jacks bad qualities.

Roy Was married to RosemaryViolent, alike to Rosemarys father.

Alcoholic

Follows Rosemary to Salt Lake City, obsessive and possessive over her.

Likes guns.

NormaLikes Bobby

Married to Kenneth

Dwights daughterSweet

Chipper

Doesn't actually like Kenneth but marries him for stability

Bobby CrowLikes Norma

School quarterback in Concrete Indian Turns hard headed and angry after Norma broke up with him and married Kenneth.

Was an outgoing, happy and carefree person.

Had no goals in life.

Kenneth Married to NormaDetestable and argumentative

Strict Christian

Imposes on everyone his values

PearlDaughter to Dwight About the same age as Jack Really does not like Jack,

SkipperSon to Dwight

Older than Jack Loves his Ford

Quiet and polite, doesn't like to impose on others.

Mr. HowardAlumnus of Hill Preparatory School

Is Jacks mentor for Hill. Generous, kind and takes a liking towards Jack

Terry & Terry Jack friends in Salt Lake City They like to pull pranks

Vulgar

Jerry HuffMarried to Tina FloodShort and strong Popular with the girls at school

Bullies everyone

The WelchesPoor

Own gasolineA lot like the Cunninghams

Prideful, poor but decent folk

They wont take help from others and this is their biggest downfall.