Gunnar Kaufmann is one of the more unorthodox main characters I have encountered in a novel. His upbringing is an interesting one, as a black boy growing up in a white, relatively accepting society. However, he is still seen as "different." He is dubbed the "funny, cool black guy," already a sign of disconnection from his white peers. He is invited to parties, but in class we mentioned that this may just be the kids wanting a "black guy," not necessarily Gunnar Kaufman. At this point, while he realizes his difference, he simply sees himself in the position he's assigned. It's not until he moves to Hillside that he begins to realize his life in Santa Monica was almost a surreal one. He soon makes black friends and becomes a basketball star. While his natural talent helps him rise to popularity, he starts noticing that he is seen as more of a "basketball machine" than an individual by the white coaches and fans. His final performa