Mac’s character development involves his anger toward adults for their dishonesty and understanding the nuances of omission when necessary. Mac struggles with his sense of injustice, as he feels that the adults in his family and the adults within his school all withhold the truth from him in some manner. Mac responds vocally and through his protest of censorship at school, while at home, he struggles with how to address his emotions in a healthy manner. His journey to combat the feeling that the adults in his life lie allows Mac to mature as he understands why truths are held from him at times.

Mac’s anger toward the adults at his school for withholding the truth can be seen as he raises topics of concern and protests censorship within his literature group. This characteristic is introduced early in the narrative as Mac reflects on a class field trip within the Prologue, where he asked about the Founding Fathers. He asked how many signers of the Declaration of Independence enslaved people, firm in his belief that the truth about history be known. His question sparked Ms. Sett’s disapproval, and he only continues to do so when he is enrolled in her class.