Elliot Sutton, the protagonist of the book, is a short and slight 14-year-old boy who lives in England with his hard-working mother and disabled father. His early childhood was fun and uneventful—that of a normal schoolboy—but after his father suffer a traumatic brain injury, he moved to a different school and became the victim of vicious bullies. As a result, he suffers from post-traumatic stress.

Elliot’s ability to invent a new persona when they move again speaks to his resolve and inner strength, determined never to be a target again. Elliot’s genuinely kind and caring nature clashes with the hard, cruel alter-ego he creates. Elliot excels at swimming and is a high academic achiever, but the previous trauma of being a victim and the fear that it will happen again consumes him, overshadowing his life. He is afraid to be himself and pursue the things and people he likes. It is only when Elliot accepts his true self-worth that he can be himself. Over the course of the book, Elliot evolves from a terrified, isolated boy to a member of a cruel, secret society. However, he eventually rejects this empty life driven by fear, emerging as a caring and thoughtful teenager who is confident enough to just be himself, whatever that might bring.