Holling Hoodhood

Holling Hoodhood is a seventh grade boy who is learning about life. He attends Camillo Junior High school on Long Island and knows little about the world. As a Presbyterian in a predominately Jewish and Catholic area, Holling understands about being different, but doesn't know yet about discrimination or other worldly topics. Holling is a caring young man, but at the beginning of the novel, he understands only things that occur in his own life and doesn't think to look outside himself. His family is upper class, and his father is passionate about the family business, although he seems to allow that care to overshadow almost all else. He calls his house the "Perfect House" because it is well maintained, and projects the perfection his father imagines.

When Holling begins to learn Shakespeare from his teacher, Mrs. Baker, Holling begins to learn more about tragedy and what...