Delia is an empathetic, friendly eighth-grader who is well-liked by her peers and teachers. She is a champion jumper on the Queen Bees Double Dutch team, finding solace and confidence in the rhythm of the sport. Despite her outward appearance of having everything under control, she hides a massive academic secret that threatens her participation on the team.

Randy is a tall, good-humored eighth-grader who manages the equipment for the Double Dutch team. He presents a carefree and playful exterior to his classmates. In reality, he is remarkably self-sufficient, managing his household and caring for his cat while his father works as a long-haul trucker, though his current situation causes him severe anxiety.

Yolanda is an eighth-grader and an expert jumper on the Queen Bees Double Dutch team. Bold and brash, she loves the spotlight and frequently exaggerates stories about her personal life to entertain her friends. Despite her dramatic flair, she is a deeply committed athlete who finds structure and focus through jump roping.

Tabu and Titan are twin brothers who recently transferred to the middle school. They dress entirely in black, move as a unified force, and maintain an intimidating, stony demeanor that frightens both students and teachers. They struggle to make meaningful connections with their peers following a family tragedy.

Bomani is the kind, supportive coach of the Queen Bees Double Dutch team. Despite his chaotic personal life managing ten children, he makes time to boost the confidence of every jumper on his squad. He serves as a surrogate father figure for many of the students, offering a safe haven when they face instability at home.

Misty is a highly skilled jumper for the Queen Bees who attends a different school than Delia. She is deeply committed to Double Dutch, crediting the sport with giving her the structure and motivation she needed after her father passed away and her mother stopped working.

Mr. Youngblood is Randy’s father, a long-haul trucker known for being an attentive and providing parent. He is well-liked in his local community and usually leaves his son well-supplied during his trips. His sudden, unexplained absence drives much of Randy's anxiety throughout the story.

Mrs. Douglas is Delia's mother. She is a caring figure who has been heavily distracted by her difficult divorce from Delia's father. Because her attention has been fractured by familial conflict, she remains unaware of Delia's significant academic struggles.

Mr. Douglas is Delia’s father, who is now divorced from her mother and remarried. His departure from the family home caused significant emotional upheaval, and his ongoing arguments with his ex-wife continue to impact Delia's home environment.

Mr. Clifford is the perceptive owner of a local pawn shop. He recognizes when neighborhood kids are in trouble and quietly intervenes to help them without bruising their pride. He acts as a community safety net, offering subtle financial assistance and practical advice.

Charlene is an eighth-grader and a skilled member of the Queen Bees Double Dutch team. She jumps alongside Delia and Yolanda, sharing in the team's camaraderie and contributing to their synchronized freestyle routines.

Miss Benson is a first-year English teacher who looks almost young enough to be a student herself. She brings high energy to her classroom and encourages her students with creative assignments, though she struggles to manage the intimidating presence of the Tolliver twins.

Jesse is a classmate of Delia and Randy. He participates in group projects and class discussions, often bringing creative ideas to assignments, such as suggesting a skit about modern-day fears for their English class.

Mrs. Tolliver is the mother of Tabu and Titan. She is a grieving widow who struggles to control or understand her sons' aggressive behavior following the tragic death of their father, ultimately seeking help through a television program.

Mrs. Parks is a social studies teacher who encourages her students to think critically about human behavior. She pushes her class to analyze why they are drawn to fearing the Tolliver twins, connecting their local school dynamics to broader historical themes.

Jillian is Mr. Douglas's new wife and Delia's stepmother. She represents the new family dynamic resulting from the Douglas parents' divorce.