Tony
Tony is a 17 year old male that struggles with suicide due to past and present traumas. Tony presents himself as gay in the novel, and is very open about it although he falls involve quickly with Vanessa. Tony has been in juvenile detention since age 9, due to killing his rapist (mothers boyfriend) and was just released prior to his suicide attempt. Tony had a rough childhood, with his Father leaving and his mother being a prostitute he was forced to give sexual favours on the streets for food, showers, drugs, etc.. This continued on in jail where Tony would give sexual favours to other cell-mates in order to get by without being bullied, or get a few extra meals. Tony suffers with his own mind due to being degraded by being raped by his Mothers boyfriend, killing her boyfriend, losing his best friend to suicide and being homeless and abandoned after his release. Tony keeps all of his mistakes to himself, and only has ever told his best friend that died from suicide what he had done. Tony attempted suicide by trying overdose on Valium, and admitted himself to the hospital after realizing he had a problem and that the hospital would keep him off the streets. Tony is a character that I feel will continue to struggle with getting back on his feet after being released from the hospital due to having nobody to rely on (except Vanessa) and no place to go.
Emily bell-ross 