Craig is the protagonist of the novel and the character through whose perspective the story is told. Craig details the memories and trauma from his childhood and adolescence which shaped the person he became. He comes from a traditional Christian family and has one younger brother named Phil. As a child, Craig is unlike his peers or his family and finds he does not fit in anywhere. He is bullied at school and church camp for being different, skinny, and for being of Spanish descent. He is bullied at home by his parents, who constantly shame him for going against Christianity and God’s teachings. Craig is also bullied by his teachers and pastor, who tell him that drawing is pointless and even sinful. He is consistently shut down for being himself, and many times in his childhood and youth he is forced to choose between social acceptance and adhering to his own truth.

A majority of the novel takes place during the two-week period that Craig spends with his first love, Raina, and Craig is 17 at the time. He has long black hair, a thin build, and a timid smile. His main passion is drawing, which he uses to express and catalogue his feelings and experiences.