June is an eleven-year-old Chinese American girl in the sixth grade whose comfortable life shatters following the sudden death of her father. Relocated to the Huey House shelter in the Bronx, she initially struggles to adapt, hates the two-hour school commute, and blames bad luck for her situation. She loves classical music, and the secret preservation of her confiscated viola gives her a sense of purpose.

Tyrell is a sixth-grade boy of Black and Chinese descent who has lived at Huey House for three years. He moves through the shelter system with comfortable familiarity and harbors dreams of becoming a police detective. Though prone to minor mischief and lock-picking escapades, he has a strong moral compass and a deep, secret appreciation for classical music.

A serious, academically focused sixth-grader who has lived at Huey House for three years alongside his best friend, Tyrell. He excels in school and skillfully picks locks when necessary. He dreams of moving out at eighteen to share an apartment with Tyrell, though his family's housing situation is rapidly changing in ways he struggles to communicate.

The director of Huey House who enforces regulations with cold, bureaucratic rigidity. She prohibits pets, musical instruments, and outside food. She aligns herself with corporate headquarters, pushing the hazardous Housing Stability Plus program to quickly evict families and secure financial bonuses for the company.

The dedicated head of family services at Huey House. She actively opposes the superficial housing policies pushed by her superiors. She prioritizes the actual well-being of the residents, offering them tailored support, genuine empathy, and comfort foods rather than rushing them into unsafe living conditions.

An eccentric, highly accomplished violinist who lives in the brownstone next to Huey House. She maintains an intense, demanding personality and initially frightens June. However, she possesses a genuine desire to nurture musical talent in the young people living next door.

A responsible sixteen-year-old resident at Huey House. She lives with her mother and grandmother following her father's abandonment. Warm and welcoming, she goes out of her way to help newcomers adjust to the shelter environment and heavily opposes the city's rushed housing policies.

June's six-year-old sister. She is a dedicated vegetarian and a passionate animal lover who deeply misses the family dog they left behind in Chinatown. Her youthful innocence and emotional needs contrast with the harsh realities of the shelter system.

June and Maybelle's mother. Following the sudden death of her husband, she falls into a severe depression, rendering her unable to care for her daughters. She spends her early days at the shelter disconnected from reality, forcing June to take on a parental role.

The large, wrestler-like head of security at the shelter. Despite his intimidating physical appearance, he is a gentle ally to the residents. He actively subverts Ms. MacMillan's strict rules by secretly storing June's instrument and playing his djembe drum in the courtyard.

A Huey House resident who struggles to maintain steady employment. She frequently prioritizes her own desires over her children's needs, such as watching dance shows instead of children's movies and quickly losing the fast-food job Ms. Gonzalez secures for her.

A housing specialist from the Department of Homeless Services. He embodies the cold, bureaucratic machine of city politics, tasked with forcing families out of the shelter system regardless of their readiness or the quality of their new accommodations.

Lulu's grandmother, a highly active and connected resident of Huey House. She keeps track of neighborhood politics and uses her outside connections to secure music lessons for June.

Lulu's mother, currently studying to obtain her hairstylist certification. She frequently practices her trade on the shelter residents, producing mixed results, but she offers important emotional wisdom regarding family forgiveness.

The pragmatic head cook at Huey House. Hailing from Hawaii, she maintains a watchful eye over the residents. Though she can appear grumpy, she genuinely cares about the children and willingly accommodates Maybelle's vegetarian diet.

A maintenance worker and van driver at the shelter. He facilitates the residents' transportation across the city and turns a blind eye to the children's harmless rule-breaking when properly compensated with candy.

The front desk attendant at Huey House. She is largely apathetic toward the residents' emotional needs and frequently neglects her duties to check social media or flirt with the security staff.

June's best friend at her school in Chinatown. He remains completely unaware of her family's eviction and subsequent move to the Bronx, as June goes to great lengths to hide her housing status from him.

A talented but cruel violinist in the school orchestra. She views June as a rival and openly mocks her living situation, attempting to use June's poverty as a weapon to humiliate her.

A condescending resident at the shelter who frequently clashes with Tyrell and Jeremiah. Her habit of making the sign of the cross when Tyrell approaches makes her a prime target for the boys' cafeteria pranks.

The brother of the man murdered by Tyrell's father. Despite his initial anger upon seeing Tyrell, he ultimately chooses to break the cycle of trauma by writing a letter to Tyrell, offering forgiveness and encouragement.

Tyrell's incarcerated parent. He committed a fatal shooting at a Bronx bodega several years prior. His actions cast a long shadow over Tyrell, who privately fears inheriting his criminal tendencies.

The Yang family's beloved former pet dog. Following the family's eviction and relocation to the pet-free Huey House, she is housed at the Mott Street Animal Shelter in Chinatown, prompting Maybelle to wander off in search of her.

A dog belonging to one of Domenika's friends. Domenika temporarily cares for him and eventually pays Maybelle to watch him during music lessons.

A three-legged hamster living secretly in the shelter's after-school room. Ms. MacMillan remains completely unaware of his existence because she never enters the space.