Ashe is a 16-year-old high school student living in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1968. He experiences intense stress from his parents' constant arguing over their opposing political ideologies regarding the Vietnam War. Fearing the military draft, he wants to attend Arizona State University simply to secure a student deferment. He regularly checks the local newspaper for casualty reports, feeling a mix of emptiness and sickness when looking at the portraits of fallen soldiers.

Ashe's mother is a vocal activist who frequently attends protests and advocates for civil rights. Her progressive views constantly clash with her conservative husband, creating a deeply divided household. She strongly encourages Ashe to go to college to avoid the draft. She eventually becomes pregnant by another man, which precipitates a formal separation and legal battle with her husband.

Ashe's father works at Motorola and previously played college football for the Arizona Wildcats. He firmly supports the Vietnam War, believing military service is an essential patriotic duty, and he pressures Ashe to join the ROTC. He holds highly traditional, authoritarian views on gender roles and openly expresses racist attitudes. His discovery of his wife's pregnancy leads him to initiate a bitter legal dispute over custody.

Angela is a tall, confident student who recently moved to Phoenix from California. Adopted as a baby, she dreams of joining the Peace Corps and actively supports anti-war ideologies. She quickly forms a bond with Ashe, offering him emotional support during his family troubles. Her daily life is overshadowed by heavy anxiety regarding her brother, who is currently serving in Vietnam.

Mr. Ruby teaches US history and Contemporary Civilization at Ashe's high school. A former Marine with a faded tattoo on his wrist, he is deeply affected by the ongoing conflict. He starts each class by writing the weekly Vietnam death toll on the chalkboard, forcing his students to confront the reality of the war.

Reuben is a Vietnam War veteran who works alongside Ashe digging trenches for a hotel in the Arizona heat. He shares harrowing, unvarnished stories about his military service. He explicitly warns Ashe against going to war, explaining the severe physical and psychological damage it inflicts on survivors.

Marcus is a man Ashe's mother meets through her political activism. He becomes the father of her child, Rosa. He faces significant personal difficulties and admits to being on the run from the authorities, creating further instability for the family.

Rosa is Ashe's biracial infant half-sister. Her birth brings Ashe a profound sense of protective love and provides a rare point of joy for his mother. However, her existence also intensifies the legal and emotional hostilities coming from Ashe's father, who directs extreme racial prejudice toward the infant.

Mrs. Turner is Angela's adoptive mother. She maintains a warm, welcoming household that contrasts sharply with Ashe's home environment. She lives in a state of persistent worry regarding her deployed son and extends kindness and practical help to Ashe's family during their domestic crises.

Mr. Turner is Angela's adoptive father. He greets Ashe cheerfully and helps create a stable family environment. Like his wife, he suffers from severe, unspoken anxiety over the lack of communication from their son in the military.

Kelly is Angela's brother, currently deployed in the Vietnam War. His absence and the military's complete silence regarding his status hang heavily over the Turner household, causing intense daily stress for his entire family.