Jake Irving Character Analysis in This Is How It Always Is

A kid a Poppy’s school in Seattle. The day Poppy is outed as transgender, Jake, under the influence of Marnie Alison, says terrible transphobic and homophobic things to Poppy. Afterward, Jake texts Poppy to apologize, and when Poppy returns from Thailand, Jake asks her to dance at the Valentine’s Day dance at school. Jake represents those who are encouraged by bullies to give LGBTQ kids a hard time. Jake turns out not to be such a bad kid, he simply follows his peers at Poppy’s expense.

Jake Irving Character Timeline in This Is How It Always Is

The timeline below shows where the character Jake Irving appears in This Is How It Always Is. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

At school, Marnie Alison and Jake Irving approach Poppy and ask her if she is a boy. “We heard,” Jake says... (full context)

...socks, Poppy feels almost brave. A few people walk by and say hi, and then Jake Irving approaches. He says hello and asks if Poppy ever got his text (he sent... (full context)

Jake asks Poppy if she wants to dance. He looks at the dance floor and tells... (full context)