A dedicated Mexican American teenager with a passion for basketball. He wakes up at 4:30 a.m. every summer morning to ride with his dad to a factory so he can walk to the city's toughest outdoor court. Eager to improve his skills, he faces the frustration of being sidelined by older players but persists in showing up.

The narrator's father, who works at a local factory. He speaks very little during their morning commutes and carries a tense, unspoken history with law enforcement. Despite his quiet and seemingly detached nature, he consistently provides transportation for his son's summer ambitions.

A young girl sold into servitude in Imperial China. Born to a family that fell on hard times, her mother secured a promise that Lingsi would be taught to read. She uses her sharp mind to absorb the lessons originally meant only for the wealthy son of the house.

The wealthy matriarch of the Li family in Imperial China. She purchased Lingsi as a baby and promised to educate her, a vow she originally intended to break. She holds traditional, restrictive views regarding gender and views educating a girl as a complete waste of resources.

A strong-willed girl who works as an apprentice in her father's painting business, Sol Painting, Inc. She struggles academically but dreams of turning the family company into an empire. She dreads starting seventh grade at the affluent Seaward Pines School in the fall.

Merci's older brother, a rising senior and a Sunshine Scholar known for his intelligence. He loves science and excels academically, contrasting sharply with his sister. He feels uneasy working at the affluent Seaward Pines School and tries to keep a low profile.

The owner of Sol Painting, Inc. and a dedicated father. He strikes a deal to paint the gym at Seaward Pines School in exchange for Merci's tuition. He consistently prioritizes his children's educational opportunities over his own pride and comfort.

A student who feels uncomfortable with their birth name, Samantha, and prefers to go by Sam. They struggle to speak up in class and feel restricted by traditional gender presentations, such as wearing makeup. They find themselves immediately drawn to a confident new classmate.

A new student from California who arrives at school with an unconventional sense of style. She chooses the intimidating elf name "Blade" and ignores the wild rumors circulating about her. She expresses herself unapologetically and confidently.

A fifth grader bearing heavy emotional and practical burdens following the death of his father. He frequently eats cheap meals of beans and rice while caring for his little sister and managing their precarious housing situation. He seeks refuge in the local library.

A grieving widow struggling with alcoholism after the loss of her husband. She spends most of her days in bed, surrounded by empty bottles, and frequently fails to provide meals or stable housing for her children. Her addiction forces her son into an early caretaking role.

The narrator of the Choctaw Bigfoot story, given the nickname "Turtle Kid" by their uncle. They participate eagerly in the family's weekly barbecues and have a deep appreciation for the Choctaw tradition of storytelling. They understand the unwritten, nonverbal rules of family communication.

A charismatic older relative who commands the attention of all the cousins at family gatherings. He tells elaborate, suspenseful, and humorous tall tales featuring elements of Choctaw folklore, specifically about wood sprites and Bigfoot.

An 11-year-old white girl living in the small town of Petersborough, New Hampshire. She carries a deep, quiet grief over the loss of her mother to cancer. Her perspective on her mostly white hometown changes significantly after befriending a girl from New York City.

A tall Black girl from New York City who moves to a predominantly white town in New Hampshire. She plays Beethoven on the piano and confidently sets boundaries, such as refusing to let curious classmates touch her hair. She handles the town's microaggressions with a mixture of assertiveness and hidden sadness.

A rigid, academically driven boy on a European vacation with his grandmother. He prefers the safety of books and awards over the unpredictability of unfamiliar situations. He feels isolated and assumes his academic success means he must be inherently unlikable.

Santosh's wealthy, impeccably dressed grandmother. She orchestrates unconventional outings during their European trip, purposefully ignoring museums in favor of beaches and cooking classes. She pushes her grandson to experience life outside his restrictive academic bubble.

A middle schooler who writes a memoir in verse about acquiring a sudden superpower. Originally an uncool kid who quotes Star Wars, he claims a car accident gave him the ability to read minds. He uses this alleged power to manipulate his environment and impress his classmates.

A popular seventh-grade girl who initially views Monk as a geek. She is condescending and quick to mock him in front of her friends. She becomes entangled in his attempts to prove his mind-reading abilities through a high-stakes bet.

A boy who lost his ability to walk following a severe car accident. He once shared a deep love of basketball with his father and regains that passion when invited to join a wheelchair basketball team. He misinterprets his father's quiet demeanor as a lack of interest in his new athletic pursuit.

Chris's father and a former professional basketball player. Following the car accident that paralyzed his son, he withdraws emotionally and speaks mostly in inaudible mumbles. He struggles with guilt over the crash but still possesses a deep, enduring knowledge of the sport.

The best basketball player at Muni Gym, standing six-foot-four. He dictates the culture of the court and sets the expectations for who gets to play. He acts as a harsh gatekeeper to the games, frequently intimidating younger or less experienced players.

A man who plays pickup basketball at Muni Gym. He has lost his job but still offers to buy the narrator a hot dog and a Coke out of kindness, teaching the boy a lesson about accepting generosity.

A basketball player at the Muni Gym with a Superman tattoo. He teases the young narrator about being skinny, but quickly accepts the boy when he mocks him back.

The fiercely independent female captain of the Red Flag Fleet. She leads a group of pirates that strikes fear into the Imperial Navy. She defies societal expectations of women by commanding a maritime fleet, appearing as both a terrifying and captivating figure.

The son of the wealthy Li family. He is unmotivated, cruel, and struggles academically, causing his tutors immense frustration.

A guidance counselor and soccer coach at Seaward Pines School. He fails to apologize for his team's destructive behavior and expects the painting crew to simply fix the mess.

Sam's best friend. He is an accommodating boy who comes over after school to help Sam craft an elaborate origami rabbit card.

Isaiah's four-year-old little sister. She is largely dependent on her older brother for meals, baths, and entertainment while their mother grieves.

The librarian at the local library where Isaiah spends his afternoons. He notices Isaiah's dedication to his notebooks and reading. He gently encourages the boy's creative pursuits by offering information about a local writing competition.

A friend of Isaiah who visits his apartment. Isaiah tries to hide his mother's sadness and drinking from him.

The mother of the narrator. She repeatedly tells the children to ignore Uncle Kenneth's tall tales, though she secretly enjoys the communal joy his storytelling brings.

A widower who struggles to support his daughter following his wife's death from cancer. He dismisses his daughter's profound emotional pain, insisting she is too young to know real hurt.

A white girl in Petersborough who used to be Treetop's friend. She perpetuates harmful stereotypes about Black people and alienates Treetop with her prejudice.

A friendly Spanish boy at the beach in Barcelona. He notices Santosh sitting alone and tries to invite him to play paddle ball with his friends. He is open, persistent, and unbothered by language barriers.

Monk's best friend and fellow Star Wars fan. He doubts Monk's claims of mind-reading until they orchestrate a test during science class.

Monk's father, an Air Force major known as Jack Jackson. His fatigue leads to a near-accident that supposedly triggers his son's mind-reading abilities.

A wedding planner and Chris's mother. She strongly supports her son's entry into wheelchair basketball and pushes her emotionally withdrawn husband to engage with the family.

An older man from the family's church who starts a local wheelchair basketball team. He welcomes Chris and tries to build a supportive environment for the players.