Vernon

The protagonist of this novel is Vernon Dobbs, a seventh grade boy living in Baltimore, Maryland in the early 1980s. He lives with his father, one older brother, one older sister, and one younger brother and sister. His mother died several years before, suddenly, of a stroke. Vernon, already big for his age, is one year behind in school.

Vernon tells the story from first person point of view. He recounts the events of the previous year, when he meets and, eventually befriends, Maxine and Robert Flooter. At the beginning of the novel, Vernon is an immature and even cruel young boy. He shamelessly steals candy from the local Woolworths and calls rude names to "crazy" Maxine Flooter.

However, circumstances occur that lead Vernon to seek tutoring from Miss Annie, Maxine's neighbor. As a payment for the tutoring sessions, Miss Annie asks Vernon to do various chores for...