What purpose does the character Jeremy Simms serve in the novel? Is he really an important character in the novel? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your position.

Jeremy Simms is a white boy who is often beaten for walking to school with and associating with the Logan children. His sister is Lillian Jean, who is often rude to Cassie. He has two big brothers, Melvin and R. W., who use T. J. pretending they are his friend.

Cassie is the protaginist and also the first-person narrator of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. She's only nine years old, and we totally see the limitations of being such a young narrator: the adult characters aren't too quick to let her in on the action.