Moss is a sixteen-year-old gay Black teenager living in West Oakland. He struggles with severe anxiety and panic attacks resulting from the trauma of witnessing his father's death by police six years earlier. He attends the underfunded West Oakland High, where he and his diverse group of friends face increasingly hostile administrative policies. He often uses mental grounding techniques, such as running through a catalog of happy memories, to manage his panic.

Esperanza is a Puerto Rican-American lesbian who was adopted by wealthy, white parents. She attends a well-funded, predominantly white high school in Piedmont, giving her a vastly different educational experience than her friends in West Oakland. She is outspoken and fiercely loyal to Moss, often helping him through his panic attacks. However, she struggles to recognize how her wealthy upbringing shields her from the harsher realities her friends endure.

Javier is a young, gay, undocumented Latino immigrant. He meets Moss on a train while heading to a demonstration and quickly establishes a connection with him. He is highly empathetic and does not judge Moss for his mental health struggles, finding ways to make him feel comfortable and accepted. He enjoys drawing and creates his own superhero comic books.

Wanda is Moss's mother, working long hours at the local post office to support them following her husband's death. She has a deep background in community activism and remains connected to a network of organizers. She provides Moss with a safe, open environment to discuss his mental health and sexuality. She actively encourages the young people in her life to channel their frustration into organized action.

Mr. Jay Elliot is the principal of West Oakland High. He implements harsh, authoritarian security measures—such as random locker searches and metal detectors—instead of funding educational resources. He responds to student unrest with increased policing rather than addressing their concerns.

Reg is a biromantic, physically disabled student at West Oakland High. He relies on crutches and a wheelchair following a car accident that left him with pins in his leg. He is resilient and refuses to be pitied, but he faces immediate physical challenges when the school introduces new security machinery.

Shawna is a recently out trans girl with epilepsy attending West Oakland High. She is targeted by the school's new random locker search policy, which leads to a severe physical altercation regarding her necessary medication.

Mrs. Torrance is an extravagantly dressed English and homeroom teacher at West Oakland High. She is a former community activist who personally understands the struggles of her marginalized students. She openly criticizes the school's lack of funding and supports her students when they face harsh disciplinary measures.

Frank Hull is the armed, white police officer assigned to West Oakland High. He aggressively enforces the school's new random locker search policy, treating the student body with suspicion and hostility.

Bits is a nonbinary student at West Oakland High and part of Moss's core friendship circle. They lost their father to gun violence and briefly joined a gang for protection, an experience that heavily informs their perspective on community and safety.

Njemile is a lesbian student with two lesbian mothers who attends West Oakland High. She is proactive and suggests that the students gather to discuss the school's increasingly oppressive conditions.

Kaisha is an asexual student at West Oakland High. She is fiercely protective of her friends, particularly her partner Reg, and actively challenges individuals who try to dismiss the severity of the students' mistreatment.

Rawiya is a Muslim punk student at West Oakland High. She faces both Islamophobia from the school administration and judgment from privileged punks outside her community. She is deeply committed to her friends and their organizing efforts.

Mr. Jacobs is the Assistant Principal at West Oakland High. He facilitates the school's harsh security measures and misgenders students, remaining largely detached from the physical harm the new policies inflict.

Diego is a handsome paramedic who provides Moss with an oxygen mask during a demonstration. He is supportive, professional, and later appears off-duty to support the students' activism.

Shamika is a close friend of Wanda. She is entirely accepting of Moss's sexuality and enthusiastically encourages his budding romance with Javier.

Martin is a barber and a longtime family friend of Moss and Wanda. He holds fond memories of Moss's father and frequently provides a supportive, safe space for the neighborhood youth.

Eugenia is Javier's mother. She is warm, hospitable, and deeply supportive of her son's sexuality. She quickly forms a bond with Wanda over their shared experiences of raising gay sons.

Rebecca is Esperanza's wealthy, white adoptive mother. She considers herself a liberal ally but frequently oversteps, centering herself in activism and failing to understand why marginalized communities distrust the police.

Reverend Okonjo is a pastor who hosts the students' secret community meetings at his church. He encourages his congregation to support one another through mutual aid and solidarity.

Carlos is a friend of Javier who attends demonstrations with him. He uses his artistic skills to create a large graffiti mural commemorating those impacted by police violence.

Daley is a heavily armed police officer who aggressively attacks students during their school protest. He ignores attempts by his fellow officers to de-escalate the situation, prioritizing violence over crowd control.

Rachel Madsen is a communications manager for the police department. She attempts to control the public narrative surrounding the school protests by shifting blame onto the students.

Johanna is a replacement communications manager for the police department. She initially attempts to sweet-talk protestors into leaving but quickly turns hostile and condescending when her requests are denied.

Sophia Morales is a Latinx reporter for NBC. She aims to provide Moss with a platform to speak, though she occasionally struggles to navigate the sensitive, triggering nature of his trauma.