Zane Dupree is a self-proclaimed “mutt.” Zane is tall and green-eyed and light-skinned with a darker version of his mom’s blonde hair. He is multiracial: His mom is white, and his late father was Black, but Zane is not interested in his family heritage. He is content with his small family of just his mom, himself, and his best furry buddy, a dog named Bandit. He does not want to meet his great-grandmother or learn about his father’s life. But Zane shares a lot of his father’s features, like his “skinny nose” and “mischiefy look,” along with his father’s eyes, smile, and even his laugh. As the story progresses, Zane gains a greater understanding about himself, and just how important family—both blood family and one’s chosen family—is.

Zane is funny and imaginative but his often self-deprecating comments also reveal a low sense of self-esteem. He recognizes when he makes poor decisions but is harder on himself than he needs to be. Zane is often self-conscious—worrying about embarrassing himself by singing in church and deflecting his gym-class failure by making fun of the exercise—and he tries to look cool. Beneath his insecurities, Zane is introspective and self-aware: He knows he is deluding himself that his father does not matter to him.