Lunch Money

Maura Shaw is one of the two protagonists of the story. Since they were very young, Maura has lived across the street from Greg. She competes with him on everything: how fast they can ride their Big Wheel tricycles, how much lemonade they can sell, and finally who has the better comic book for sale at school. Maura really likes Greg, and competition is her way of connecting to him. It is not very efficient because they argue a lot, and one day she accidentally hits him in the nose, causing it to bleed profusely.

Maura struggles with her desire to befriend Greg and to convince him to respect her. She finally learns to approach him directly about the comic-book project she wants help with, rather than simply competing with him from a distance. She can be bossy, and this gets her into unpleasant arguments with Greg, but she learns to appreciate the value of his contributions—even if sometimes they are focused on the money he wants to make instead of the art she wants to produce.

Math teacher Anthony Zenotopoulous—“Mr. Z”—teaches sixth-grade math at Ashworth Intermediate School. With Principal Davenport, he is one of the two main supporting characters in the story. Mr. Z loves math for its logic and stability; he uses it often to solve problems that crop up, and he teaches its importance as a powerful tool in anyone’s life. Mr. Z’s biggest fear is blood, at the sight of which he must lie down. His second-biggest fear is conflict between people, and his inclination is to back down rather than stick up for his beliefs. Impressed by Maura and Greg’s sincerity, enthusiasm, and talent for creating comic-books, Mr. Z risks angering Principal Davenport by defending their desire to create and sell their minicomics on campus.

At the climactic School Committee meeting scene, Mr. Z gently rebuts Mrs. Davenport’s fears about comic books at school, and he suggests that her concerns and the kids’ interest in selling the booklets can be resolved by selling other items at the student store. His idea makes solid, logical sense, and, like a mathematical proof, it is hard to reject. Mr. Z’s willingness to step out of his comfort zone and take a personal and professional risk on behalf of Greg and Maura shows that the kids are not the only characters who learn and grow from dealing with the challenge of the minicomics.

Mrs. Davenport is one of the two main supporting characters of the story, but she is also the main antagonist. She is friendly yet blunt. Though helpful to Greg and Mr. Z during the nosebleed crisis, she strongly disapproves of the comic books that Greg and Maura peddle to the other students. She bans the booklets from campus, and when Mr. Z decides to help the two budding publishers, she digs in her heels and does battle with them at the monthly School Committee meeting.

The battle, however, is polite and civil, as is Mrs Davenport herself. She admits that the classic comics she received anonymously were quite respectable, but she objects to the idea of turning her school into a swap meet. Mr. Z agrees but suggests that students need to learn how business works, and his idea to limit on-campus sales to the student store clinches the deal. Shown that the students are not trying to create chaos, Mrs. Davenport accepts the new project.

Her character demonstrates how leaders of good faith can work with others to resolve challenges to their authority. Mrs. Davenport appreciates the good will and sincerity of Maura, Greg, and Mr. Z, and this helps her recognize that her old attitudes about youth culture are too fussy and old fashioned for a changing world.

Greg’s older brothers, Ross and Edward, are minor characters whose main purpose in the story is to make fun of Greg. Their taunts and teasing stand in for the opposition many of Greg’s peers feel toward his business projects. This background noise in Greg’s life partially explains why he is reluctant at first to work with Maura; he must overcome his worries, especially about Ross, when she visits. The older brothers thus symbolize the obstacles that kids sometimes must overcome when they try to do things or have friends that others disapprove of.

Greg’s parents are minor characters. They care about Greg but wonder whether he is obsessed with making money. Quietly, they approve of his friendship with Maura, and they support him at the School Committee meeting. Their presence in the background of the story shows that Greg has love and support at home. The issues he faces stem largely from his own enthusiasm and from the typical perils of growing up.

Like the Kentons with regard to Greg, the Shaws care about their daughter Maura, and they back her efforts to produce minicomics for sale. Their supportive presence gives Maura a solid foundation on which to build her life, master new talents, and reach out socially.