Character Analysis
Gerad is America's six-year-old brother. His conflict is a simple one: although he's forced by law to become an artist because he's in Caste Five, he's much more interested in other stuff like soccer and science.
This highlights the silliness of Illéa's caste system. How does it help anyone for Gerad to work as an artist when he has neither aptitude for nor interest in it? Wouldn't his country be better served if he took a job that suited his skills? Seems like a no-brainer to us. Still, it becomes clear that the Illéan caste system was never meant to help the country at large—it's all about is keeping people down.