Because Charlotte and Jackson are middle school students, much of the novel describes their activities at Loblolly Middle School. The school itself symbolizes the average experience of middle grade students around the country and speaks to the theme of The Effects of Living With a Fake Identity. The WITSEC agents chose the school specifically because it represents a national average. The students are neither brilliant nor dull-witted. The school’s sports teams don’t perform in a way that draws national attention. Both Jackson and Charlotte are cautioned to rein in their natural abilities and perform at an average level. Because both children are academically gifted, they must work hard to be average. When taking tests, they must second-guess wrong answers, and the Trevor parents review their homework to make sure that it never exceeds average expectations. For individuals as unique as Charlotte and Jackson, this represents a challenge.

However, their struggle to fit in is mirrored in the fake identities projected by their schoolmates. Everyone wants to be accepted and avoid criticism. Brit is so fearful of abuse that she becomes self-effacing. She excels at online gaming only when no one is looking at her. None of her peers at school know about her abilities.