Emmett Watson

Emmett Watson is the 18-year-old son of the late Charlie Watson. He is the older brother of Billy. Emmett is the central character in the novel as he goes on both a literal and figurative journey as he learns to control his anger.

At the beginning of the novel, Emmett is being released from a juvenile facility to which he was committed after he unintentionally killed a boy his own age. The boy had been taunting Emmett. Emmett lost control of his anger and hit him so hard that he fell backward and struck his head on a concrete block. When Emmett explained to his younger brother why he was going to the facility, Billy advised him the next time he felt angry enough to hit someone that he count to ten first as a way to control his anger.

Emmett’s patience and the control of...