Content Warning: The source material contains descriptions of child neglect, abuse, trauma, and child death.

Georgie Burgess begins the novel as a troubled and introverted boy, the result of his mother’s negligence and the physical and emotional harm he has received from both her and her partner, Steve. Georgie is skeptical of others and has difficulty expressing his emotions, preferring a gruff façade. Despite his suffering, Georgie develops a strong will, which helps him survive in unimaginable circumstances. He remains hopeful and finds refuge in little pleasures like his favorite book and a scraggly rosebush he wins in a contest.

Georgie’s abuse has caused him to have a tough exterior and has resulted in limitations to his learning abilities at school. Starting fires, picking fights, and his disdain for Mrs. Harper are all signs of a survival instinct and Georgie’s attempt at self-preservation. For example, he sees Mrs. Harper as irredeemable after she threatens to burn his rosebush, believing that “all” mothers must be bad. His physical scars from his beatings serve as a visible reminder of his suffering, yet no one can see the depth of his emotional wounds, which are more apparent to the reader.