Jesse Alderman / Sway

Jesse is the central character / protagonist. Jesse is a high school student in his senior year. He makes his own money and supports himself by dealing drugs at his school, as well as hiring students to write class assignments which he sells to other students, and fulfilling any other favors and requests brought to him by the student body at large. Because he is so convincing, and because of his ability to make money by making things happen, he has earned the nickname “Sway”: a slang term indicating that someone is cool, successful, and admired.

Readers learn through the narration that Jesse’s mom killed herself a year before the story of the novel took place. After his mom’s death his dad became depressed and distant, leaving Jesse alone to fend for himself. As a result of this, Jesse became detached from his own emotions...