Matthew Polly (Bao Mosi)

Matt is the main character of the book, as well as its author. The story is told from his point of view. The stories he tells are real events that have happened to him, though he admits to having edited them a little for dramatic effect, as well as playing around with the order in which events happened. 'Bao Mosi' is Matt's Chinese name, which is what he uses to introduce himself to a person when in China.

Matt begins the book as a very naive and unconfident young man who does not have much self-belief. He creates a list of things he wants to change about himself, titling it 'Things That are Wrong with Matt.' This negative approach says a lot about Matt's character at the beginning of the story. He does not have the right attitude towards himself and towards growing up...