Rick

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. Rick chooses not to tell Jeff about joining Rainbow Spectrum to avoid retaliation. As Grandpa Ray observes, Rick “do[es]n’t give [Jeff] anything to fight about” (45); that is, he avoids conflict with Jeff because Rick doesn’t stand up for himself or anyone else. In this way, Rick tries to be “normal,” but in doing so, he hurts himself.

At the same time, Rick struggles at Rainbow Spectrum, too. While the group is a safe space, Rick’s association with Jeff distances him from the other students. His uncertainty of his identity, LGBTQIAP+ or not, alienates him from others who are more certain of who they are (gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgender, etc.). Rick begins to question if he is asexual and/or aromantic, but others deny his journey, citing that he is “too young.” This attitude further isolates Rick, both from what society deems “normal” and from self-acceptance.

It is not until Rick opens up and embraces his “unconventional” interests that he begins to create positive relationships in his life. His and Grandpa Ray’s shared love for Rogue Space gives Rick a safe space to enjoy himself and a family member who accepts his asexual/aromantic identity and teaches him that it’s all right to be different. Grandpa Ray has an unconventional hobby: crossdressing cosplay. Grandpa Ray’s acceptance allows Rick to accept Gamma Ray, Grandpa Ray’s cosplayer alter ego.

Rick’s positive relationship with Grandpa Ray also gives him the courage and confidence to seek out other positive relationships at school. Rick rejects Jeff’s bullying, thus ending their friendship, but he subsequently opens himself up to new, positive friendships with Ronnie and Melissa, Rainbow Spectrum members who encourage him to participate onstage during Cabaret Night. Ronnie, whose own artistic habit of drawing faces on things, and Melissa, a theatrical star, also encourage Rick’s unique hobby of spinning quarters, which becomes his cabaret act. By embracing his unconventionality, Rick creates positive relationships for himself, rather than trying to fit in with mainstream society’s concept of “normal.”