Jonathan McKinnon is one of the main characters in this book. Jonathan is everything that an American teenage boy can hope to be and more. Born under Dr. and Mrs. McKinnon, he has lived a comfortable life with few concerns. Jonathan is the starting quarterback on Willamette Grove High School's football team. At the beginning of the novel it is hinted that he is in a relationship with Cathy Gates. At this beginning of the novel this superficial description about him leads readers to believe that he may not be a vital character, but when Jonathan heard Sundara Sovann's poem, he began to change. Although he is a talented quarterback, Jonathan becomes uninterested in football and becomes more interested in listening to Sundara’s stories. Jonathan no longer cares about what his friends thought about him. When Jonathan begins to feel attracted to Sundara, he becomes desperate for her returned affection. As the novel progresses, it becomes more and more evident that Sundara is influencing Jonathan to become more aware of the world and life in general.