Aiden is a 14-year-old Filipino American boy attending summer camp with his Boy Scouts troop. He faces relentless harassment at his Catholic middle school regarding his weight, racial background, and perceived sexuality. At camp, he hopes to find a safe space but struggles with the increasingly vulgar behavior of his peers as they go through puberty. He is highly sensitive and routinely assumes a primary caretaking role for his four-year-old twin siblings at home.

Elias is a conventionally attractive and athletic member of the Flaming Arrows patrol. He easily fits into the social hierarchy of adolescent boys but secretly harbors anxieties about starting high school and fitting in with other athletes. He shares a tent with Aiden and treats him with genuine kindness, setting himself apart from the casual cruelty of the other campers.

Mark is an older member of the Flaming Arrows patrol who enforces restrictive social norms among the boys. He frequently expresses irritation at Aiden's differences and repeatedly pressures him to act more conventional. His comments contribute heavily to the hostile environment Aiden experiences.

Ted is a confident and capable adult in charge of the camp's orienteering classes. He carries himself with a sense of assurance that Aiden deeply respects. Unlike many other adults at the camp, Ted actively monitors the emotional well-being of the boys and creates a safer environment by refusing to tolerate discriminatory language.

David is a boy in the Flaming Arrows patrol who signs up for basket-weaving class because it sounds easy. He bonds with Aiden over comic books and their mutual fears about starting high school. He is one of the few boys who shows direct friendship toward Aiden without demanding conformity.

Violet is Aiden's best friend, whom he met at a Christian camp two years prior. Though they live far apart, they maintain a tight bond through regular letters and phone calls. Her correspondence provides a vital emotional lifeline for Aiden, offering him unconditional acceptance and a shared sense of humor.

Ryan is a member of the Flaming Arrows patrol. He easily conforms to the group's adolescent behavior, frequently echoing the sentiments of his older cousin, Mark, and failing to understand Aiden's perspective on friendship.

Bobby is a scout in Aiden's patrol. He participates in the group's crude adolescent bonding activities and peer pressure dynamics, following the lead of the more dominant personalities in the tent.

Rob is the patrol leader for the Flaming Arrows. He manages the group's activities and keeps the younger boys organized during their camp projects and overnight trips.

Aiden's mother struggles with depression and the volatile dynamics of her marriage. She frequently sleeps for long periods, eats very little, and leans heavily on Aiden for emotional support and advice after arguments with her husband.

Aiden's father is a man with a remarkably short temper who frequently yells at his wife and children. His anger creates a tense, fearful environment at home, occasionally escalating to physical outbursts like punching holes in the wall.

Tessa is Aiden's four-year-old sister. Because of her parents' frequent fighting, she relies heavily on Aiden, who acts as her primary caregiver and protector within the household.

Tommy is Aiden's four-year-old brother. Like his twin sister, he looks to Aiden for stability and care in a volatile home environment.

Father Danilo is a priest at the Catholic middle school who encourages Aiden to consider the priesthood. He is stern and often uninterested in answering Aiden's deeper spiritual questions, presenting a rigid view of religion that leaves Aiden feeling alienated.

Jacob is the scoutmaster in charge of Aiden's troop. He enforces camp rules and disciplines the boys when they act out of line, though he often fails to understand the underlying emotional issues his scouts face.

Brad is a ruthless middle school classmate who relentlessly tormented Aiden before the summer began. He functions purely as a source of trauma, embodying the harsh harassment Aiden hopes to escape by changing schools.