David Greenfeld

David Greenfeld is the narrator and main character of the novel. He is in the sixth grade at a predominantly black public middle school in Boston. David is one of very few white students at the school. David is often bullied at the school, and he tries and fails to socially assimilate. Marlon Wellings, a kind and studious black student, eventually becomes David’s closest friend at the school. David and Marlon begin spending time together outside of school, either in recreational activities or studying together for the Boston Latin entrance exam. However, their friendship experiences times of turbulence, and it ultimately dissolves after David is accepted to Boston Latin and Marlon is not. At the end of the novel, David decides to write a letter to Marlon in an attempt to re-forge their friendship.

David lives with his parents and younger brother Benno in Jamaica Plain...