"He is the biggest jerk I know ' exclaimed Jimmy" in the novel, Launching. Jimmy Merritt refers to John Charles Abbott, a socially and economically challenged kid from across town, whose sole existence seems to be to annoy Jimmy Merritt and his friends. Readers will be drawn into the story of Jimmy, Bouie, Roz, and ML, and how they contend with antagonist John Charles Abbott, whose instinct enables him to tap the weak spots in each of the principal...