Horace Hopper

Horace Hopper is the novel’s protagonist and is one of the two point-of-view characters. Horace is in his early twenties. His ethnic heritage is half-Irish and half-Native American (specifically the Paiute tribe). Horace was disowned by his parents years ago, as they divorced and did not want to take care of a child. Horace was raised for several years by his racist grandmother, who instilled in Horace a self-hatred for his own Native American heritage. In his youth, he began living and working on a sheep ranch. He and the ranch owners—Mr. and Mrs. Reese—now view each other as family. Horace desires to become a professional boxer. He decides to adopt the name Hector Hidalgo and try to pass as Mexican, as he is inspired by successful Mexican boxers.

In his early twenties, he leaves the ranch in Nevada where he has lived and...