Walker Dupree

Walker Dupree is the narrator of the story from whose point of view everything is described. He is a senior at Frost High School in Spokane, Washington and is the captain of the school's small swim team. Walker lives with his parents, who are quite a bit older than the parents of most of his friends. He also has an older brother John who is 15 years older than him.

Walker enjoys classic rock music, a taste passed down to him by his older brother. He otherwise despises his brother, who is a drug user and, he suspects, a drug dealer. Walker's parents are not greatly involved in his life, and he has learned to be independent.

Walker is fiercely loyal to his friends on the swim team and comes to their aid whenever needed. He has a girlfriend named Devnee who he feels he should break up...