Nimra is a 12-year-old Pakistani Muslim girl who has just memorized the entirety of the Qur'an. She has a strong sense of self rooted in her religious and cultural traditions, but her identity faces challenges when she transitions to Farmwell Station Middle School. She loves drawing in her private basement space but finds herself torn between her traditional faith and her desire to fit in with her new public school peers.

Jenna is Nimra's non-Muslim childhood best friend. Used to seeing Nimra only on weekends, she struggles to accept her friend's religious practices in a public setting once they attend the same middle school. She prioritizes popularity and social standing, distancing herself from Nimra to maintain her status among the popular students.

Waleed is an eighth-grade student and the founder of the popular Muslim boy band Barakah Beats. Known for his talent and humor, he hides his deep anxiety about proving his musical worth to his strict father. He shares a passion for art with Nimra and becomes one of the first students to show her genuine kindness at Farmwell.

Mama is Nimra's mother. She dropped out of the traditional workforce to start a business with her husband. She wants the best for her daughter but holds strict religious views that restrict Nimra from taking art classes. Her constant arguments with her own parents create tension in the household.

Baba is Nimra's father, a supportive and engaged parent who values hard work and religious devotion. He believes in traditional academic paths, preferring Nimra to study Spanish rather than art. Like his wife, he has a strained relationship with his in-laws but works hard to provide a stable environment for his daughter.

Balil is a Black Muslim teenager and an eighth-grade member of Barakah Beats. Familiar with adversity himself, he sympathizes with Nimra's struggles as a newcomer. He serves as the band's initial lead singer and welcomes Nimra's vocal talents without jealousy.

Matthew is the fourth member of Barakah Beats and a white Muslim convert. He is considered popular and goofy by his peers at Farmwell. During band practices, he reveals a deeper, more thoughtful side and is dedicated to using music to help refugee families through the upcoming mosque fundraiser.

Khadijah is Balil's younger sister and the artistic advisor for Barakah Beats. She is a bookish, soft-spoken girl who offers Nimra practical help and emotional support. Having experienced rejection from Jenna's friend group in the past, she understands Nimra's social isolation perfectly.

Julie is one of Jenna's friends at Farmwell Station Middle School. She initially speaks to Nimra slowly and with condescension, stereotyping her based on her hijab. Her interactions cause tension, though she eventually reassesses her behavior.

Nana is Nimra's grandmother. She is highly critical of her daughter's life choices, particularly Mama's decision to leave the traditional workforce. She expresses frequent disapproval regarding how Nimra is being raised.

Nano is Nimra's grandfather. He shares his wife's traditional views and frequently argues with Baba over the phone and at family dinners. His harsh judgments make Nimra anxious about expressing her own interests.

Val is a public school student and part of Jenna's core social group. She participates in decorating lockers and eating lunch with the popular girls, making Nimra feel alienated and unwelcome at her new school.

Evelyn is another member of Jenna's friend group at Farmwell. She enjoys the attention of her friends, who decorate her locker for her birthday, and contributes to the clique's exclusionary atmosphere.

Sister Sadia is Nimra's former teacher at Guided Light Academy. She serves as a trusted mentor figure whom Nimra approaches with ethical questions about lying.

Waleed's father is a member of the local Muslim community. He holds strict expectations for his son's future, heavily pushing him toward an engineering career and viewing music as a mere distraction.

Principal Coggins is the head administrator at Farmwell Station Middle School. He points Nimra toward a quiet space when she urgently needs to perform her prayers during the school day.

Reema is one of Nimra's friends from Guided Light Academy. Her absence at Nimra's party emphasizes Nimra's reliance on Jenna during the event.

Hana is another friend from Guided Light Academy who does not attend Nimra's celebration, further isolating Nimra outside of her school environment.