Theo Character Analysis in Tell Me Three Things

Theo is Jessie’s stepbrother and Rachel’s son. He’s about the same age as Jessie, though the two never figure out which of them is older. Theo is openly, proudly, and flamboyantly gay. Though Jessie is accepting of his sexuality, she does find it surprising that he can be gay and so popular at school, reflecting that such a thing wouldn’t be possible at her old school in Chicago. Initially, Jessie sees Theo as a stereotypical entitled brat. He barely speaks to her for the first few weeks she lives with him and if he does, it’s to say something rude to her or Dad. He also refuses to acknowledge her at school. However, Theo and Jessie begin to open up to each other and develop routines that help them see that they can trust and count on the other. Theo opens up to Jessie about Theo’s dad, with whom Theo was very close. He was the one who made it very clear to Theo that there was nothing wrong with being gay, and Theo was much closer to his dad than he is to his mom. Theo wisely observes that both Rachel and Dad seemed to believe that they could just marry again and forget that someone else died—which is one of the main reasons that Jessie and Theo learn to lean on each other. Theo eventually stands up for Jessie when Gem bullies her, which begins to turn the tide and help Jessie feel more comfortable at school. Though he remains obnoxious, entitled, and somewhat rude, Jessie comes to see that he’s also kind, funny, and caring.

Theo Quotes in Tell Me Three Things

The Tell Me Three Things quotes below are all either spoken by Theo or refer to Theo. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

“My dad died of lung cancer,” Theo says, apropos of nothing, and takes another long hit. “That’s why I smoke. Figure if you can run twelve miles a day and get cancer anyway, I might as well live it up.”

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“I know, right?” Theo puts out the joint, carefully saves what’s left for later. He stands up and looks me straight in the eye. No trace of his temper tantrum left. “Hey, for what it’s worth, I’m really sorry about your mom.”

“Thanks,” I say. “Sorry about your dad.”

Related Characters: Jessie Holmes (speaker), Theo (speaker), Rachel/Dad’s New Wife, Jessie’s Mom, Jessie’s Dad, Theo’s Dad

Page Number and Citation: 47

Explanation and Analysis:

Late in the evening after the disastrous family dinner, Jessie and Theo sit outside and talk about their deceased parents. It’s interesting to note that up until this point, Jessie has spoken about her mom to the reader, but this is seemingly the first time that she’s spoken to anyone about her mom out loud. This is also the first she’s heard about Theo’s dad. The fact that both Jessie and Theo have to be the ones to share with each other these very important things about their deceased parents—and specifically, that their parents didn’t prep them about their new Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae

This is intimate, and not in the way it was at dinner, when Rachel put her hand on my dad’s, a gesture that on reflection seemed more for Theo’s and my benefit. Now, they are bent together, forehead to forehead, and there’s a photo album I’ve never seen before open on their laps. Must be Rachel’s. Is she showing my dad her before pictures? Her dead husband?

Related Characters: Jessie Holmes (speaker), Rachel/Dad’s New Wife, Jessie’s Dad, Ethan/Somebody Nobody/The Batman, Theo

Page Number and Citation: 51

Explanation and Analysis:

When Jessie inadvertently stumbles upon Dad and Rachel looking at a photo album one night, she recoils from the intimacy that she recognizes in the moment. This is the first time Jessie shows that she understands intimacy can take the form of something other than sex—she recognizes that Dad and Rachel are sharing a highly intimate experience, even if they’re just quietly looking at photo albums. It’s telling that Jessie can identify this in the adults around her but not necessarily in her own experiences—despite the fact that she spends so much time spilling her heart out to SN online Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut

For a moment, I think it would be preferable to listen to them have sex. This is somehow more intimate, more raw. Even worse than witnessing her midnight tears.

Related Characters: Jessie Holmes (speaker), Jessie’s Dad, Theo, Ethan/Somebody Nobody/The Batman, Rachel/Dad’s New Wife

Page Number and Citation: 130

Explanation and Analysis:

As Jessie and Theo secretly listen to Rachel and Dad fight, Jessie decides that listening to a couple fight like this is more intimate than listening to people have sex. This represents another major leap in Jessie’s understanding of intimacy—namely, she realizes in this moment that intimacy is more than sex. Rather, intimacy extends to how couples speak to each other, touch each other in nonsexual ways, and even to how they fight, especially when they think no one is listening. This is somewhat disturbing for Jessie, as it shows her once again that she cannot continue to hold sex Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. R

“You think they’re going to get a divorce?” Theo asks, and it surprises me that my heart sinks at the thought. Not because I particularly like living here, but because we have nothing to go back to. Our house is gone. Our Chicago lives. [...] When Rachel told my dad to not come back, did she expect me to leave too? Are we kicked out?

Related Characters: Theo (speaker), Jessie Holmes (speaker), Rachel/Dad’s New Wife, Jessie’s Dad

Page Number and Citation: 132

Explanation and Analysis:

Following Rachel and Dad’s explosive fight, Jessie realizes that much to her surprise, she doesn’t want them to get divorced, if only because she doesn’t think she has much to go back to in Chicago. This suggests that Jessie’s conception of home is beginning to change as she settles in in Los Angeles, makes friends, and learns how her new school works. That Jessie is settling at all is an extremely important development—she’s beginning to learn that she can make a home anywhere, as long as she’s with people she loves and trusts. This fight, however, makes Jessie question whether Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum

“They’re both idiots.”

“Stop it.”

“They are. They thought they could just insert replacement here and forget that someone they loved actually died. Even I’m more emotionally mature than that.”

Related Characters: Theo (speaker), Jessie Holmes (speaker), Rachel/Dad’s New Wife, Jessie’s Dad

Page Number and Citation: 150

Explanation and Analysis:

Not long after Theo and Jessie overhear Dad and Rachel’s explosive fight, Theo insists that their parents are going about this huge life transition all wrong. He succinctly identifies exactly where their parents are messing up: at least as far as Jessie and Theo can tell, their parents expect their children to simply accept a new replacement stepparent. And to make matters worse, neither Rachel nor Dad have acknowledged their dead spouses much or at all in front of their children, which makes it seem to Jessie and Theo as though it’s inappropriate to talk about them or openly grieve Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eli

There aren’t pictures of him around, which would be weird, but then I realize there aren’t very many pictures at all. [...]

The walls of my old house were covered with pictures of my family. Each of my school photos were framed and mounted in chronological order, even the ones where I was caught with my eyes closed [...]

Related Characters: Jessie Holmes (speaker), Theo’s Dad, Rachel/Dad’s New Wife, Theo, Jessie’s Mom, Jessie’s Dad

Page Number and Citation: 221

Explanation and Analysis:

In the car on the way home from Giving Day, Jessie and Theo discuss Theo’s dad, and it occurs to Jessie that unlike in her childhood home, there are no photos of Theo’s biological family here in Los Angeles. While it’s very likely that this is simply a matter of differing family culture—some families make more of a point to display photos than others—it nevertheless compounds Jessie’s feeling that she’ll never fit in here. She comes from a tight-knit environment where every photo, even the bad ones, were treasured. Because of this, it’s strange and even outright uncomfortable for her Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. M

I think about the life I’ve built here. SN and Ethan, or maybe SN/Ethan, Dri and Agnes, even Theo. Liam too, I guess. How my new English teacher said I’m one of her brightest students, which is a huge compliment, considering I go to a school that sends five kids to Harvard each year. How Wood Valley may be filled with rich brats, but it also has a beautiful library, and I get to work in a bookstore, and I’m reading college-level poetry with a boy who can recite it back to me. In a strange way, thanks to Rachel, LA has turned out to be nerd heaven.

Related Characters: Jessie Holmes (speaker), Jessie’s Dad, Ethan/Somebody Nobody/The Batman, Agnes, Theo, Liam Sandler, Mrs. Pollack, Rachel/Dad’s New Wife, Adrianna Sanchez/Dri

Page Number and Citation: 304

Explanation and Analysis:

When Dad offers seriously to take Jessie back to Chicago so she can finish school there, Jessie takes stock of all she has in Los Angeles and realizes that, all things considered, it’s not so bad. This is the point at which Jessie truly understands that though she’s still in the process of figuring out where she belongs in Los Angeles and who she is, Los Angeles is well on its way to becoming home to her. She also mentions a number of specific people that make this place feel like home, driving home again that people make a place Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Q

This is a house full of pain, of bad juju, as Theo said, but it’s also a house of starting over. Maybe we need to light a few candles. Better yet, start putting things on all of the white walls. “You know, I mean, this place is beautiful, but maybe you should put out some pictures too. Of your husband—I mean your, uh, other husband, Theo’s dad, and of Theo as a kid. So he can remember.”

Related Characters: Jessie Holmes (speaker), Theo’s Dad, Theo, Jessie’s Dad, Rachel/Dad’s New Wife, Jessie’s Mom

Page Number and Citation: 312

Explanation and Analysis:

When Rachel comes to Jessie’s room to apologize for her absent behavior and to give Jessie permission to decorate as she sees fit, Jessie begins to realize that she does have ownership over the house—and she can suggest things they can do to make the house feel more like home to everyone. This is a major turning point for Jessie, as up until now, she’s felt like a guest in Rachel’s house and hasn’t even felt comfortable using the fancy soap in her own bathroom. The suggestion that they light candles represents Jessie’s newfound realization that they need to move Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Vo

Theo Character Timeline in Tell Me Three Things

The timeline below shows where the character Theo appears in Tell Me Three Things. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Wealth, Fitting In, and Bullying Theme Icon

...how pathetic she was. The first day was embarrassing on so many levels. Jessie’s stepbrother, Theo, pretended she didn’t exist and drove to school alone, so Jessie got stuck in Los... (full context)

...later, Jessie stands in the cafeteria and wonders where to sit. She can’t sit with Theo, who ignores her and spends time with a girl named Ashby. Jessie is privately shocked... (full context)

Jessie grudgingly leaves her bedroom and follows Theo downstairs. Theo is rude, so Jessie decides to be an angel. Rachel says they have... (full context)

Later, Jessie sits on the deck and wonders if Theo, Rachel, and Theo’s dad all sat down to dinner before their lives changed. Theo slumps... (full context)

Unprompted, Theo says Theo’s dad died of lung cancer. This is why Theo smokes; he figures he... (full context)

Theo comes into the kitchen wearing impossibly tight jeans and a leather vest. He flexes his... (full context)

After Theo leaves, Jessie emails SN to ask if he’s at the party. SN asks if they... (full context)

...her she’ll do fine on the PSAT, even if she doesn’t have a tutor like Theo. Jessie texts Scarlett on her way out the door. (full context)

At Rachel’s house later, Jessie gleefully announces to Theo that she got a job someplace that won’t embarrass him, since he’ll never go there.... (full context)

...with a spoon, Jessie says she used to, but now she lives with “Others”—Rachel and Theo—and Dad wouldn’t let her label her jar. SN says that his parents are still together,... (full context)

Back at Rachel’s house, Jessie finds Theo outside their parents’ bedroom. Jessie hears loud shouting inside and Theo says they might be... (full context)

Theo whispers that Rachel just says mean things when she’s mad. Dad angrily starts to say... (full context)

Theo and Jessie race quietly to Theo’s room. They wonder whether their parents are going to... (full context)

That night, Jessie finds Theo at the counter with a glass of wine, looking like he’s 40. He pours Jessie... (full context)

...of a target for Gem, even if they are more appropriate for a construction site. Theo suggests they drive together since he’s afraid of someone stealing his car, but the neighborhood... (full context)

...Jessie and though Jessie refuses, she’s grateful that so many have offered. She mentions that Theo saved her today. When Jessie learns that Gem’s dad sponsored lunch, she wonders if she... (full context)

On the drive home, Jessie thanks Theo for standing up for her. He says quietly that Gem called him a “faggot” when... (full context)

Theo then asks if Jessie and Ethan are friends. He warns Jessie that Ethan might be... (full context)

...Mrs. Pollack gives Jessie a look of empathy. After class, Jessie thanks him and remembers Theo’s warning. Ethan’s pupils are a normal size. He wishes Jessie a safe trip and tells... (full context)

Theo texts a bit later, impressed that Liam broke up with Gem to be with Jessie.... (full context)

Theo is impeccably dressed in a pinstripe blazer and matching shorts. He says he only offered... (full context)

Theo tosses Jessie a juice box and says she needs to talk to Dad. Jessie reminds... (full context)

...Chicago has moved on since she left. She also loves Ethan, SN, Dri, Agnes, and Theo, as well as Mrs. Pollack and the library at Wood Valley. Jessie says she’d rather... (full context)

...photo. Jessie notices that Rachel took down the paintings. Rachel apologizes for leaving them up; Theo’s dad chose them. She says that Jessie should put up whatever she wants and that... (full context)

Theo Character Analysis

Theo Quotes in Tell Me Three Things

Chapter 5 Quotes

Chapter 6 Quotes

Chapter 15 Quotes

Chapter 17 Quotes

Chapter 24 Quotes

Chapter 33 Quotes

Theo Character Timeline in Tell Me Three Things