Canada is the narrator and central figure of the memoir. He lives, along with his mother and his three brothers, in the South Bronx: a dangerous and complicated environment which he must learn, over the course of the book, how to navigate.

In ways that are both lucky and problematic, Canada is a fast learner. Even while he frequently describes himself as confused and floundering, he seems to hide this feeling quite well around his peers. We as readers have access to his innermost fears and doubts, but his peers, for the most part, do not. This is because one thing that Canada quickly learns is the importance, in his neighborhood, of not showing your feelings, especially those of vulnerability and confusion. He also learns how to walk down the street in such a way that looks confident and tough; how to “trash talk” with the older boys in his neighborhood; and, especially, how to fight.

Canada is smart in school, as well as street smart, and is observant and sensitive. He must struggle to reconcile these different sides of his nature and learn how to survive in the Bronx while remaining true to himself. In this, he has an important role model in Mike, his older friend in the neighborhood.