Danny Cheng is the protagonist of Picture Us in the Light. His first-person perspective invites the reader into his coming-of-age story and interpretation of the world. Danny is an artist, a devoted friend, and a senior in high school looking forward to a future at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). He is characterized by his intense connections to other people; he loves being a part of a community and is empathetic to his family and friends. Danny also struggles with internal conflicts. He fights his love for his best friend Harry and is burdened by guilt, as he feels he contributed to former friend Sandra’s depression and death by suicide. Danny is also haunted by the image of Mr. X, a racist white man who harassed his child self; Mr. X has since morphed into Danny’s internal negative voice.

As Danny’s external conflicts outweigh his internal ones, he learns to confront Mr. X, his guilt and regrets, and his struggles to express himself. His character development comes from discovering that the world is not an idealistic