Bobby Phillips

Bobby Phillips is a 15-year-old boy. He is the son of a professor mother and a physicist for a father. Since his mother is a professor, Bobby attends a special private school, the University of Chicago lab school. Bobby is the main character and narrator of the book. Bobby is a very intelligent boy. He is also musically inclined. Bobby loves to listen to music and play the trumpet.

Emily Phillips

Emily Phillips is Bobby's mom. She is a professor of literature at the University of Chicago. Bobby refers to her as the "Director" because she is always giving orders. While she seems like a tough, organized, and regimented person on the outside, she does have a motherly instinct that makes her truly care about her son. Emily comes to realize that she has been taking her relationship for granted after she is in a car accident...