Content Warning: This section discusses substance use and physical abuse.

Lionel is the novel’s protagonist and point-of-view character. Lionel, a Black teenager, lives in a predominantly Black urban neighborhood in California and goes to Bluford High School. Lionel is a skilled basketball player who dreams of making it to the NBA but struggles at school. The novel does not specify whether Lionel’s illiteracy stems from learning disabilities, policies like social promotion, or Lionel’s inability to apply himself. In response to his poor performance, he hides his learning issues from parents, friends, and teachers. This causes shame and feelings of low self-worth: Lionel thinks he lacks intelligence compared to other students. 

Lionel also faces challenges at home. His mother works in the military and is deployed overseas, sometimes for years. His father, Leroy, is also frequently away from home, working as a truck driver to make ends meet and support the family. Lionel is deeply impacted by his parents’ absence, especially his mother’s. He constantly feels that his family is falling apart and is jealous of his best friend, Dontrell, whose parents are always around. Nevertheless, family is central for Lionel; his parents’ values guide him throughout the novel.