Naomi is a fifth-grade student at Buena Vista Elementary who lives in Lemon Tree, California. She resides in an Airstream trailer named Baby Beluga with her great-grandmother and younger brother. Her primary hobbies include carving animal figures from soap and maintaining various lists in her notebook. She struggles with anxiety and stays completely silent in uncomfortable situations. She feels disconnected from her Mexican heritage because she does not speak Spanish.

Gram is the protective great-grandmother who has raised Naomi and Owen for the past seven years. She works from home as a seamstress to provide for the children. She firmly believes in self-prophecy, teaching the children that positive thinking brings about positive results. She maintains a tight-knit routine that includes watching Wheel of Fortune every night with her neighbor.

Owen is Naomi's younger brother and a second-grade student. He was born with distinct physical differences, including a tilted head and uneven leg lengths. He regularly visits children's hospitals for checkups but maintains perfect overall health. He boasts the highest IQ in his class and regularly defeats adults at the game of checkers.

Born Terri Lynn Outlaw, Skyla is the children's mother who returns unexpectedly to Avocado Acres Trailer Rancho. She demands the family call her by her new name, which her tattoo-artist boyfriend gave her. She vacillates between showering Naomi with gifts like matching outfits and exhibiting harsh, manipulative behavior. She openly rejects Owen due to his physical appearance.

Santiago is the children's estranged father who resides in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. He works taking tourists on fishing trips in his boat, the Soledad. He comes from a long line of skilled woodcarvers and continues the family tradition by crafting small wooden animals. He sends money to the children over the years despite being told to stay away by Skyla.

Fabiola is Gram's neighbor at the trailer park and her closest friend for nearly four decades. She previously worked alongside Gram as a seamstress before retiring. She provides a secondary layer of maternal support for the Outlaw children, frequently hosting them at her home when they need a safe space.

Bernardo is Fabiola's husband and a talented woodcarver. Recognizing Naomi's anxious nature when she was younger, he introduced her to carving as a physical outlet to keep her hands occupied. He plans to enter a prestigious radish-carving competition in Oaxaca and serves as a steady, protective presence for the Outlaw family.

Clive is Skyla's new boyfriend. He joins the family for Thanksgiving dinner, where he immediately calculates how much state aid Gram receives for raising the children. He views relationships purely in terms of financial gain and views Owen as a potential tool for betting schemes.

Blanca is a new student in Naomi's fifth-grade class. She is outgoing and confident, immediately striking up a conversation with Naomi. She teaches Naomi about the meaning of her last name and encourages her to ask questions about her family history.

Flora is Fabiola's sister who lives in a modest, walled home in Oaxaca City. Her house is surrounded by natural greenery and outdoor living spaces. She hosts the traveling family with immediate warmth and hospitality.

Pedro is Flora's husband. He lives in Oaxaca City and welcomes the Outlaw family into his home. He partners with his brother-in-law to prepare for the local carving festival.

Graciela is Flora and Pedro's adult daughter who lives with them in Oaxaca. She helps care for the visiting children and assists in reaching out to local residents to find information. She finds deep fulfillment in raising her son.

Rubén is Graciela's seven-year-old son. He actively assists Naomi and Owen with their secret project to contact people from the local phone directory, eager to help them search for their father.

Teresa is Santiago's aunt who resides in Mexico. She speaks primarily Zapotec and maintains the family tradition by painting the wooden animal figures that Santiago carves. Her home is filled with generations of family artwork.

Beni is Bernardo's cousin who lives in Oaxaca. He helps unload the massive delivery of radishes for the annual carving competition and collaborates with the men to design their entry.

Mrs. Maloney is a trusted neighbor living in the same trailer park as the Outlaws. She assists the family by looking after their plants and collecting their mail when they leave town unexpectedly.

Lulu is Fabiola and Bernardo's pet dog. She stays with the Outlaw family during a particularly stressful night, offering quiet companionship and a sense of security to the children.