Kenneth

Kenny Watson is the narrator of the novel. He is a ten-year-old boy living in Flint, Michigan, and his view of the world is not complete. Kenny doesn't understand all the problems of racism that he sees in the news. He doesn't even understand his own brother By, who seems to have two different sides to him. Throughout the novel, Kenny learns lessons about life through his experiences.

Kenny is made fun of at school for reading well and having a lazy eye, so he's pleased when Rufus joins his class. Kenny knows the kids will pick on Rufus instead of him, since Rufus talks funny and is poor. However, Rufus starts to become friends with Kenny. When Kenny accidentally laughs at a joke about Rufus's poor clothes, he loses Rufus's friendship. Kenny begins to learn about the consequences of his actions and the way he should treat...