About a Boy Characters

The observant, anxiety-riddled 12-year-old Marcus Brewer is the protagonist of About a Boy. Having recently moved from Cambridge to London with his single mum, Fiona, Marcus begins the novel awkward and socially inept… read analysis of Marcus Brewer

Thirty-six-year-old bachelor Will Freeman’s one and only commitment in life is to his own freedom. Living off the royalties he receives from a famous Christmas song his father wrote decades earlier, Will lives an easy… read analysis of Will Freeman

Fiona Brewer, a music therapist, is Marcus’s eccentric mum, a single parent struggling with severe depression. At the beginning of the novel, she and Marcus move from Cambridge—where they lived with her ex and… read analysis of Fiona Brewer/Marcus’s Mum

Ellie McCrae is a grunge, alternative 15-year-old who Marcus befriends at school. Ellie is obsessed with the band Nirvana, building her identity around them by wearing a sweatshirt with Kurt Cobain’s face on it… read analysis of Ellie McCrae

Suzie, an attractive single mum of two, is one of Fiona’s close friends and one of Will’s potential love interests. She meets Will at a SPAT meeting and provides him with all the… read analysis of Suzie

Clive is Marcus’s dad and Fiona’s ex who lives in Cambridge with Lindsey. He has a bit of a marijuana habit and is often chided by Fiona for smoking in front of… read analysis of Clive/Marcus’s Dad

Lindsey is Clive’s girlfriend and lives with him in Cambridge. Marcus and Fiona both like Lindsey well enough, although Fiona sometimes expresses disdain for her. Marcus particularly likes Lindsey’s mum, who sometimes gives him… read analysis of Clive’s Girlfriend/Lindsey

Ali is Rachel’s 12-year-old son who is initially unhappy with his mum dating Will. He threatens to “kill” Marcus almost immediately after meeting him. Due to Rachel’s previous disastrous relationship, Ali is skeptical… read analysis of Ali

Ned is the fictional two-year-old son who Will invents in order to meet single mothers. He finds it easier to attract women by posing as a single father and eventually meets Suzie, who fully… read analysis of Ned Freeman

Angie is the first “beautiful single mother” who Will dates, and their relationship is what initially inspires Will to join SPAT and invent his fictional son, Ned. The two go out for a few… read analysis of Angie

Katrina is Ellie’s 40-something, chaos-prone single mum with whom she shares a somewhat fraught relationship. First introduced at Suzie’s New Year’s Eve party dancing and making out with a stranger—all while in view… read analysis of Ellie’s Mum/Katrina

Mrs. Morrison is the headmistress of Marcus’s new school. When she learns about the bullies who steal the brand-new trainers Will buys for Marcus, she underplays the severity of the situation and suggests that… read analysis of Headmistress/Mrs. Morrison

Nicky and Mark, two 12-year-old boys in Marcus’s class, are the first friends he makes at his new school in London. When school bullies begin to target them because of their association with Marcus… read analysis of Nicky and Mark

Mr. Patel is an employee at one of Marcus’s favorite newsagents. He is kind and very fond of both Marcus and his mum. Unlike other newsagents, Mr. Patel allows kids to read the… read analysis of Mr. Patel