Camino is a sixteen-year-old girl living in Sosúa, Puerto Plata, in the Dominican Republic. She acts as an apprentice to her aunt, a local healer, and hopes to eventually study medicine at Columbia University. She loves swimming in the ocean and eagerly awaits her father's annual summer visits. Her ambitions face immediate danger when she loses her primary source of financial support following a fatal plane crash.

Yahaira is a sixteen-year-old former competitive chess champion living in Queens, New York. She maintains a reputation as a strict rule-follower with a strategic mind and a composed exterior. After suffering an assault on a subway train and having a subsequent falling out with her father, she quit playing chess entirely. She carries a quiet resentment that creates emotional distance between her and her family.

Papi is a businessman who splits his time between New York and the Dominican Republic. He provides financially for his distinct households, taking care to maintain separate lives in each country. His sudden death in an airplane crash exposes the profound secrets he kept from his loved ones.

Mami is Yahaira's mother and the daughter of a prominent Dominican general. She works at a salon and usually takes pride in her appearance and social standing. Behind her composed exterior, she harbors old resentments and works fiercely to isolate her daughter from the painful realities of her marriage.

Tía Solana is Camino's aunt and a highly respected healer in Sosúa. She practices Santeria and provides natural remedies and spiritual ceremonies for neighbors who cannot afford hospital care. She serves as Camino's primary guardian and mentor, offering direct advice and practical training.

El Cero is a local hustler in Sosúa who profits off exploiting vulnerable young women and tourists. He carries an unhealed pain from losing his younger sister to dengue fever years earlier. With Papi no longer able to pay him to stay away, he becomes a direct, escalating threat to Camino.

Carline is a young woman of Haitian descent and Camino's oldest friend. She works at a local beach resort while dealing with a difficult pregnancy. Her struggles to balance employment, schooling, and impending motherhood represent the harsh economic realities facing women in their neighborhood.

Dre is Yahaira's girlfriend and next-door neighbor. The two share a fire escape connection between their apartments. She is an environmental activist with a strong moral compass and a passion for gardening. She provides Yahaira with a safe space and unconditional acceptance during times of family crisis.

Mamá, also known as Zoila, is Camino's deceased mother. She died of dengue fever when Camino was younger. She was once close friends with Mami before secretly marrying Papi, creating a complicated legacy for the daughters left behind.

Don Mateo is an older neighbor in Sosúa who works as an unofficial taxi driver. He is a reliable presence in Camino's daily routine, offering transportation and quiet support during difficult moments.

Tío Jorge is Papi's brother and works as a lawyer. Following the plane crash, he steps in to offer legal counsel and handle the financial fallout. His practical advice is not always welcomed by the grieving family members.

Dr. Johnson is Dre's mother. She maintains a warm, open household and repeatedly attempts to encourage Yahaira to talk about her feelings and process her grief constructively.

Luciano is Carline's prematurely born infant son. His delicate health and need for constant care add urgency to Carline's financial struggles and inspire Camino's protective instincts.