Jerome

Jerome is the 12-year-old protagonist of the novel. He is a Black boy who has lived in Chicago’s South Side for his entire life with his parents, grandmother, and younger sister. Jerome is unpopular in school and does not have any friends. He is bullied by three boys who beat him up and tease him about his weight. He often hides in the bathroom to eat lunch unbothered. When a new boy comes to school, Carlos, he and Jerome befriend each other. When the bullies find them and begin beating them, Carlos pulls out a toy gun to scare them off. When it works, he offers the gun to Jerome to keep him safe and make him feel confident on his walk home through Chicago’s dangerous streets.

That same day, December 8, Jerome is playing with his toy gun on the walk home when he is shot...