Like all his childhood friends, C.J. is a 13-year-old in the 8th grade. He has earned a reputation as a daredevil because of the many stunts he performs with his bicycle and skateboard. In reality, C.J. only attempts these feats to cover up the bruises left by his abusive stepfather. His mother is no help because she pretends that her husband’s temper is improving.

C.J. is unwilling to share his family problems with his friends, so he covers up the injuries or lies about them. The fort becomes his only refuge from his abusive home environment, and he secretly spends his nights there. Eventually, C.J.’s friends stage an intervention, and he admits his personal problems. Fortunately, telling the truth relieves him of a major psychological burden. By the end of the novel, C.J.

Ricky is the new kid in town. He skipped a grade because of his intelligence level, so he is a year younger than the rest of the group. The other kids resent his intelligence. A second source of antagonism is the fact that Ricky also previously attended a magnet school for gifted children. Despite these setbacks, Ricky becomes a part of the pack, mainly because he discovers the hatch to Bennett Delamere’s bomb shelter.