Lily is a twelve-year-old girl living with her grandparents above their store in a small Maine town. She paints and sells mason bee houses to raise money for her blind dog's cataract surgery, an expensive procedure she hopes will fix his vision. She possesses a thoughtful, empathetic nature but feels insecure when comparing herself to her late mother's pageant-winning legacy. Her interactions with the migrant workers visiting for the harvest push her outside her comfort zone and change her view of the community.

Salma is a twelve-year-old Hispanic migrant worker who travels with her family for seasonal harvests, currently raking blueberries in Maine. Her nomadic lifestyle makes it difficult to establish permanent roots, causing her to feel displaced and miss her distant star friends. She creates vibrant, free-form paintings of pink bees and colorful blueberries instead of using traditional stencils. Her decision to enter the local beauty pageant challenges the town's expectations about who belongs in the community.

Pépère is Lily's grandfather, who crafts the wooden mason bee houses that Lily paints to sell at their family store. He lives with pragmatism and maintains a cheerful demeanor despite the tragic loss of his daughter. He serves as a stabilizing force in the household, often offering gentle advice and advocating for his granddaughter's happiness when family tensions rise.

Mémère is Lily's grandmother and primary guardian. She manages the family store and handles practical matters with a strict, cautious approach that masks her deep sorrow. Still deeply grieving the loss of her daughter, she often acts overprotective of Lily and holds complicated feelings toward the family dog, blaming him for the past accident.

Lucky is an old, black Labrador retriever who suffers from progressive blindness due to cataracts. Originally belonging to Lily's mother, he serves as the family's last living link to Danielle. He relies heavily on Lily for guidance and safety, though he maintains a resilient spirit despite his failing eyesight and Mémère's lingering resentment.

Hannah is the reigning Downeast Blueberry Queen and Lily's childhood best friend. She spends her summer focusing on the upcoming pageant and talking about her crush, Brandon. Her shifting interests create distance between her and Lily. This distance reflects the natural changes that occur as children grow older and develop different priorities.

Dr. Katz is the local veterinarian who treats Lucky's progressive blindness and monitors his overall health. She grew up alongside Lily's mother and provides Lily with a rare connection to the past by sharing stories and pictures. She acts as a maternal confidante for Lily, offering professional medical advice alongside personal, emotional support.

Danielle is Lily's late mother, who died in a car accident when Lily was very young. She was the first French Canadian to win the Downeast Blueberry Queen Pageant, breaking local barriers. Her strong-willed personality and past achievements cast a long shadow over Lily's self-esteem and shape the family's current dynamics.

Rosa is Salma's mother, traveling with her family for the Maine blueberry harvest. She provides a nurturing presence at the camp, cooking traditional foods like blueberry enchiladas. She offers maternal warmth to Lily, taking the time to paint the young girl's nails during a visit.

Eduardo is Salma's father, a migrant worker employed in the local Maine blueberry barrens. He works long hours in the fields to support his family, moving them across the country to follow seasonal crop harvests from Florida to Pennsylvania and beyond.

Mrs. LaRue is the community clerk who manages sign-ups for the local festival events. She expresses skepticism about Salma's eligibility to compete. Her attitude reflects the town's general reluctance to include temporary migrant workers in their long-standing community traditions.

Miguel is a migrant worker employed at the blueberry farm during the harvest season. He recognizes Pépère and acts as a helpful intermediary, providing directions through the busy camp so that Lily and her grandfather can locate Salma's family.

Brittany is a local hairdresser volunteering her services at the Blueberry Queen Pageant. She expresses surprise at Salma's participation and makes awkward comparisons about camp living, highlighting the cultural divide between the townspeople and the migrant workers.

Luna is Salma's previous dog, who ran away in the past and was never recovered. The painful loss of Luna gives Salma a deep understanding of Lily's anxiety regarding Lucky's safety and drives Salma to research blind dogs online.

Brandon is a local boy who captures Hannah's attention during the summer months. Hannah's constant discussion of her crush on him widens the social divide between her and Lily, who does not share her interest in romance.