I don't know what it is that people seem to find off about him. I just find him awkwardly genuine. Which is refreshing in YA fiction. Most of the love for Marchetta's male characters goes to Jonah Griggs from Jellicoe Road and he seems far less realistic to me. I just don't get it. Even in that book he wasn't the boy I fell for.

YES ABOUT THE CARING ABOUT ALL OF THEM. Another reason for you to read The Piper's Son. :) And returning to Will, I can't see how anyone could read both books and not really really love him. He is great in that one in oh so many ways. In fact my favorite scene in that book is a scene between him and Tom.