Content Warning: This section references mental illness.

Charlie “Chuck” Bell is the protagonist and narrator of Rebound, making him and his relationships with secondary characters the primary vehicle for developing the text’s themes. Charlie is a 12-year-old boy who has recently lost his father to illness and is navigating the impact grief has on both him and his family. At the novel’s outset, he is angry and isolated, turning away from his mother and retreating into comic books. The death of Charlie’s father means Charlie must also contend with the loss of a primary role model during a critical developmental period, highlighting The Impact of Role Models in Adolescence. By the end of the novel, Charlie acquires new role models in his grandfather, Percy, and his cousin, Roxie, both of whom teach Charlie about Finding Purpose in Hard Work—Percy by keeping Charlie busy with chores and Roxie by coaching Charlie in basketball.

Charlie is consistently loyal to his friends, and his narration reveals a complex emotional life. He is also impressionable, which is a character trait that both benefits him and leads him to trouble. Being impressionable helps Charlie grow, change, and heal thanks to the influence of his grandparents and cousin, but when Charlie is around people making dangerous choices (such as Skinny and Ivan), he falls into harmful behaviors.