The unnamed narrator is an 11-year-old girl living with her mother in Queens, New York. Quiet and observant, she is known as the "Brain" of her friend group and prefers to learn about the world through reading and watching others. She has grown up in a relatively sheltered environment but begins to expand her understanding of life and systemic inequalities as she enters adolescence.

D Foster is a new arrival to the Queens neighborhood, recognizable by her green eyes and copper-colored hair. Having spent years in the foster care system, she possesses an independence that fascinates her more sheltered friends. She frequently takes buses and subways to roam the city alone, actively searching for her "Big Purpose" in life.

Neeka is the narrator's lifelong best friend and neighbor, living in a crowded, noisy household with her parents and several siblings. She provides humor and energy to the trio of friends but frequently complains about her lack of privacy and her mother's strict rules. She talks often about wanting independence and dreams of becoming a college professor.

Flo, short for "Foster Lady Orderly," is D Foster's current foster mother. Though she does not make direct appearances in the girls' hangouts, her presence is felt through the strict nine-o'clock curfew she sets. She offers D Foster the longest and most stable living situation she has experienced in the foster system.

Ms. Irene is Neeka's vigilant and highly protective mother. Managing a large household of children, she keeps a close eye on everyone who comes in and out of her block. She initially views D Foster with suspicion due to the girl's unknown background but collaborates closely with the narrator's mother to keep the neighborhood children safe.

Tash is Neeka's older brother, a talented piano player who is currently in jail. As an openly gay young Black man, he faces prejudice both within and outside his community. Despite his incarceration, he maintains a flamboyant and playful demeanor, though he frequently warns his younger brothers to be careful and stay out of trouble.

Jayjones is Neeka's older brother and a talented high school basketball player. He works hard at his job and his studies, hoping to earn a college athletic scholarship and eventually buy his parents a house. Despite his dedication, he is acutely aware of the racial profiling that targets young Black men in his neighborhood.

Tupac Shakur is a prominent real-life rapper and cultural icon who heavily influences the teenagers in the Queens neighborhood. His music, legal troubles, and physical safety are constant subjects of discussion on the block. To the young people in the story, he serves as a symbol of the struggles and injustices faced by Black Americans.

The narrator's mother is a single parent raising her daughter in Queens. She works hard to provide a loving, secure home and often collaborates with her neighbor, Ms. Irene, to monitor the children's activities. She views the cultural influence of rappers like Tupac with a critical eye, worrying about the examples set for the neighborhood youth.

Mr. Randall is an older man who teaches Tash how to play the piano. He allows Tash to practice on the instrument at his house. An assault at his home becomes the central event that leads to Tash's wrongful incarceration.

Sly is a charismatic but dangerous young man who pretends to care for Tash. He uses Tash's affections to gain access to Mr. Randall's house, demonstrating a manipulative and predatory nature that brings trouble to those around him.

Emmett is one of Neeka's younger siblings in a large, crowded household. He looks up to his older brothers and pays close attention to the harsh lessons they impart about navigating the world safely as young Black men.