Will is a seventh-grade boy who loves drawing comics and expressing himself through art. Having internalized severe anti-fat bias from his peers, he wears baggy, oversized clothes and attempts to hide in plain sight at school. He restricts his food intake and eats alone in bathroom stalls or behind the auditorium to avoid the scrutiny of others. Despite his intense fear of being seen and judged, he harbors a deep desire for genuine connection and friendship.

Markus is a confident seventh-grader whose family moves frequently for his father's job. He dresses in a punk aesthetic with black skinny jeans, long black hair, and neon-painted fingernails. Choosing to present himself authentically rather than changing his clothes to fit in at each new school, he approaches others plainly and without prejudice.

Jules is a middle school student and Will's crush. She decorates her notebooks with smiling flowers, happy alligators, and clouds, which immediately catches Will's artistic eye. Unlike her more judgmental peers, she demonstrates a friendly interest in Will and does not participate in mocking him.

Nick Fisher is a classmate from Will's elementary school days. Though his direct presence in the story is brief, his public cruelty creates a spectacle that shatters Will's self-esteem. He acts as the voice of societal anti-fat bias that Will subsequently internalizes.

Will's mother is a caring, thin woman who tries to encourage her son to be more outgoing. She frequently attempts to draw Will out of his isolation by offering ideas like starting an art club, though she initially fails to recognize the depth of his internal pain and physical dysmorphia.

Will's father is a supportive and affectionate parent. He works alongside his wife to create a safe, loving environment for their son, responding with gentle physical affection and active assistance when Will communicates his distress.

Dave is Will's former best friend from elementary school. After Will begins to hide his true self behind a fake persona to cope with bullying, Dave notices the emotional distance, leading their friendship to dissolve. They occasionally cross paths in town, emphasizing Will's current social isolation.

Marci is a professional therapist who works with Will to help him understand his body dysmorphia. She sets up a welcoming, positive atmosphere, using Will's personal interests to build a constructive dialogue.