Lu Richardson is the story’s protagonist. Lu experiences many changes throughout the text which cause him to grow and mature. One change Lu experiences is a shift in his family role. When he learns that his mother is expecting a new baby after being told she would be unable to carry another child, Lu experiences insecurity about his place in his family. He states, “I wasn’t supposed to even be born. So, another baby was almost impossible. A miracle with some extra miracle-ness sprinkled on it” (9). Initially, Lu feels that having a new baby sibling takes away from his place in the family.

Sensing this, Lu’s father tasks Lu with choosing his baby sister’s name. Lu takes this responsibility seriously, and by the end of the text he decides to name her Light. Choosing his sister’s name also encourages Lu to reframe his feelings about this change to his family dynamic. As Lu matures, he realizes the importance of being a positive role model for his sister. This idea solidifies for Lu when he sees Coach Whit encourage her brother Torrie “the Wolf” Cunningham to go to rehab. At that moment, Lu decides, “I wanted to be a real big brother.