Born to entrepreneur Roger Camden, Leisha is among the first generation of genetically modified Sleepless children. She possesses immense intellectual capacity and a naturally joyous disposition. Her father raises her to strictly adhere to the principles of Yagaiism, a philosophy favoring individual achievement and mutually beneficial contracts. Her constant wakefulness gives her an academic advantage but socially isolates her from unmodified people.

The daughter of a deceased Arab prince and a drug-addicted movie star. Unlike the typically cheerful Sleepless youth, she exhibits a serious, unsmiling demeanor. She commands immense financial resources and harbors a deep distrust of the normal Sleeper population. She focuses her energy on establishing a safe, isolated community for her peers.

Born on the Sanctuary space station, Miri represents a new iteration of genetic engineering known as Supersleepless. Her brain operates at roughly three to four times the speed of a normal Sleepless individual. This cognitive overdrive causes her physical body to twitch constantly and makes holding her oversized head upright difficult. She maintains a relentless curiosity about her surroundings.

Leisha's twin sister who receives no genetic modifications. She grows up feeling deeply inadequate next to her Sleepless sibling, a situation worsened by their father's blatant favoritism. She heavily values ordinary human experiences, like dreaming, and attempts to assert her worth in a household that prizes extraordinary achievement.

The owner of the We-Sleep scooter factory. He positions himself as a populist leader, organizing unmodified Sleepers into an economic protest movement. He exclusively hires Sleepers and manufactures products for them, capitalizing on the rising class envy directed at the elite Sleepless population.

An early-generation Sleepless teenager who endures physical abuse from a mother terrified by his constant wakefulness. He keenly observes the growing societal tension, famously comparing the unmodified human population to beggars who will eventually strike out in anger against those with superior resources. He takes proactive steps to protect vulnerable Sleepless youth.

The brilliant geneticist at the Biotech Institute responsible for creating the Sleepless genetic modification. She serves as a scientific observer and trusted confidante to the Camden family, documenting the developmental differences between Leisha and Alice. She possesses a deep fascination with her own creation.

A highly successful, wealthy entrepreneur who commissions experimental genetic modifications for his future child. He firmly believes in the philosophy of Yagaiism, prioritizing individual achievement above all else. He directs intense, exclusive focus toward his Sleepless daughter while entirely dismissing his unmodified child.

A young boy originating from a lower-class Liver family in Louisiana. He hitchhikes across the country to seek out an education, hoping to escape a life entirely dependent on government assistance. He possesses raw ambition and a desire to elevate himself socially and economically.

A seventeen-year-old Sleepless youth who integrates Leisha into a wider social circle of genetically modified peers. Unlike others in his group, he possesses no additional genetic enhancements beyond sleeplessness. He acts as an early social anchor for Leisha as she manages her distinct identity.

The son of Alice Camden, formally adopted by her husband Beck Watrous. He works as a personal assistant to the populist leader Calvin Hawke. He struggles to balance the political rhetoric of his employer against his familial ties to his Sleepless aunt, seeking to act as a bridge between opposing factions.

The wife of Roger Camden. She successfully carries the twin girls to term but soon finds herself alienated by her husband's obsessive focus on their genetically modified daughter. She attempts to compensate by showering affection on her unmodified child, turning to alcohol as the household dynamics fracture.

A highly successful young Sleepless individual working as a data scientist. He applies his advanced intellect to build Groupnet, a secure communications network for the Sleepless community. He uses his technological skills to monitor for instances of parental abuse directed at Sleepless children.

A seven-year-old Sleepless girl living in Skokie, Illinois. She suffers severe abuse at the hands of her father, requiring immediate intervention from the older Sleepless community and their allies to secure her physical safety.

An unmodified Sleeper student at Harvard Law School. He treats Leisha with genuine respect and intellectual curiosity rather than the suspicion or jealousy exhibited by other students. He provides legal assistance when the Sleepless community needs help protecting a vulnerable child.

Alice's husband who provides her with a stable, supportive home environment far from her childhood trauma. He formally adopts Alice's son, raising him as his own.

A prominent energy entrepreneur who invented a revolutionary low-cost nuclear power source. He founded Yagaiism, an economic worldview based entirely on individual achievement and voluntary contracts. His teachings heavily influence the political and social perspectives of the Camden household.

The son of Jennifer Sharifi and Richard Keller. He grows up entirely within the isolated culture of the Sleepless community established by his mother, eventually raising his own genetically modified children there.

A young boy born on Sanctuary with the same accelerated brain function as his sister Miri. He shares her physical struggles with twitching and stuttering, acting as her closest peer in their specialized community.