Frannie is an observant 11-year-old girl navigating sixth grade at the all-Black Price School in New York City in 1971. Having started first grade late and experiencing initial isolation, she pays close attention to the loneliness of others and considers herself a listener rather than a talker. She worries deeply about her family, particularly her mother's physical health during a new pregnancy and her older brother's social experiences as a deaf student.

The Jesus Boy is a new sixth-grade student at the Price School who presents a quiet, tranquil demeanor. He has long hair and light skin, leading his peers to assume he is white and resulting in his nickname. He knows sign language and often ignores the stares and comments of his new classmates, choosing to sit alone and process his recent move to the neighborhood.

Trevor is an aggressive student in Frannie's sixth-grade class who immediately takes an active dislike to the new boy. He has light skin and blue eyes, living with the reality of an estranged white father across the highway. He defends his own identity by intimidating others and quickly targets the new student, giving him the nickname that the rest of the class adopts.

Samantha is Frannie's best friend, a deeply devout girl who carries a Bible at recess and views church attendance as a major joy. She dresses neatly and maintains polite manners even when dealing with abrasive classmates. Coming from a family experiencing financial hardship, she relies heavily on her faith for hope and stability.

Mama Wright-Barnes is Frannie and Sean's mother, a resilient but weary woman dealing with physical and mental health challenges connected to previous pregnancy losses. She finds comfort in attending church and loves her children deeply, though her health concerns cause ongoing anxiety for her family during her current pregnancy.

Sean is Frannie's handsome, deaf older brother who attends the Daffodil School. He communicates primarily through sign language and reads lips, spending his free time cooking and playing basketball. He often thinks about the barriers that divide people, wishing he could build bridges to connect with those outside his immediate social circle.

Daddy Wright-Barnes works as an interstate moving company driver, which requires him to be away from home frequently. He is a practical, present-focused man who encourages his family to appreciate current happiness rather than worrying about past sorrows or future uncertainties.

Ms. Johnson is the sixth-grade teacher at the Price School. She guides her class through literature, such as Emily Dickinson's poetry, and gently manages the complex social dynamics and emotional outbursts among her students.

Rayray is a student in Frannie's class who frequently associates with Trevor. Though he initially participates in mocking the new student, he displays an underlying sense of fairness and boundaries, occasionally speaking up when situations escalate too far.

Maribel is a student at the Price School whose mother owns an expensive local supermarket called Tanks Groceries. As the only student who does not receive free lunch, she frequently highlights her socioeconomic status and acts dismissively toward the other children.

Grandma is Frannie's grandmother, an older woman who attends two different churches on Sundays and carries her Bible everywhere. She offers Frannie practical wisdom about empathy and the universal experience of feeling like an outsider.

Reverend Brown is Samantha's father and the preacher at OnePeople Baptist, a church located in a former candy store between a diner and a laundromat. He leads a congregation known for its strict, traditional approach to religion.