Throughout the novel, Rick feels different from everyone, from family to friends to peers. It is not until he embraces being unconventional that he begins to create positive, meaningful relationships in his life, such as with Ronnie and Grandpa Ray.

Until he begins sixth grade at Jung Middle School, Rick has always considered himself—for the most part—a “normal” boy. He plays video games with his best friend, Jeff; tries playing baseball; and doesn’t call out Jeff for his behavior even if Rick doesn’t always approve. However, as puberty looms, Rick notices all the ways he is different from his peers: He isn’t interested in baseball, he doesn’t feel romantic/sexual attraction to anyone, and he loves the science fiction show Rogue Space. His hobby, spinning quarters, and his family’s favorite reality television show, Extreme Calligraphy Challenge, are also not common. Because Rick struggles to fit in with the social groups he encounters, he also struggles to accept the layers of himself.

Jeff is Rick’s only friend, and Rick fears being alone in middle school. Jeff is also nice only to Rick, such as when he waits for Rick to play video games, so Rick struggles to acknowledge Jeff’s toxicity, even when he witnesses Jeff bullying a transgender classmate, getting other students into trouble, and vandalizing Rainbow Spectrum posters.