“Iggy is what’s called the hero of this book. Does that mean he is polite and nice and plays the cello and reads for at least half an hour before bedtime?

No.

Iggy is the hero of this book because he’s the one who does the things in it. All the things he does (in this book) are bad. Every last one of them.”

This quote humorously introduces Iggy as the antihero of the novel and establishes him as a protagonist with flaws. The narrator makes it clear that Iggy does not fit the traditional hero mold. Instead, Iggy is described as the hero because he is the central figure in the story, despite his actions being “bad.”

“Moms make you do stuff.

Iggy’s mom, for example, made him hang out with Jeremy, because she was friends with Jeremy’s mom. Why wasn’t she friends with the moms of the guys Iggy liked?”

This quote conveys the theme of Conflict in Friendship and Family Relationships. Iggy feels frustrated because his mother forces him to spend time with Jeremy, whom he dislikes. He struggles with the constraints imposed on him by adults.

“A recital. Of course. Because Jeremy Greerson played the cello. Jeremy Greerson was a reader. Jeremy Greerson had the best manners ever, said Iggy’s own grandmother. Everyone old thought Jeremy Greerson was the most wonderful boy in the world. Even some kids thought that. Girls, mostly. But still.”

Jeremy Greerson is portrayed as multi-talented, accomplished, and well mannered, the epitome of perfection, setting up a stark contrast with Iggy. The fact that Jeremy is commended by Iggy’s grandma, an older and wiser figure, adds to Jeremy’s image of perfection. This characterization sets the stage for the dynamics between the two characters throughout the story.