Character Analysis
Rick Loski is Bryce's dad, and on paper he's got a lot going for him. He's a good-looking dude with a stable job—plus, when Bryce is young he really appreciates how his dad helps him get out of awkward social situations. So it's all good, right?
Nope. We have to watch out because this guy is not as nice as he looks. Just scratch beneath the surface a little bit and we quickly find out that Mr. Loski can be a prejudiced jerk. Whether he's talking about the messiness of the Bakers' front yard or Juli's disabled uncle, Mr. L sure can be cruel.
And this lack of sympathy means he's also a pretty harsh dad. In fact, he spends lots of time calling his son a coward. And at one point he hits Lynetta, right after she gives us a scathing description of her pops:
You are such a two-faced, condescending, narrow-minded jackass! (11.124)
Well it's a sad fact, but Lynetta has a point—her dad is easily the meanest guy in the book.
This is bad news for the Loski kids. But the upside is that Bryce figures out who he's not going to try to be like when he grows up. That's right, Mr. L—you just got booted from the role model list.