Betting on You

Bailey is the teen protagonist of the novel. She is introduced to the narrative as having glasses, braces, and unruly, frizzy hair, but after a few years, she loses the braces and tames her hair into a sleek, shoulder-length bob. Practical and bookish, Bailey is used to being in control of her feelings, her routines, and nearly every aspect of her life.

Bailey is defined by her need for stability and her resistance to change. Her reluctance to accept her mother’s new relationship is due to her fear of disrupting the status quo. Much of Bailey’s growth involves learning to let go of control, trust the people who show up for her, and believe that love—romantic or familial—can endure upheaval, developing the theme of Overcoming Resistance to Change. She’s also fiercely loyal and deeply compassionate, often putting others’ comfort ahead of her own. Though Charlie and Nekesa see her personality as uptight and believe her compulsion to people-please to be a potential flaw that others take advantage of, Bailey has a secret strength. While Charlie becomes jaded and hateful following his parents’ divorce, Bailey remains positive and open to possibility.