Alice is a bright, articulate 15-year-old girl from a middle-class family. She struggles with her weight, appearance, and social standing, often feeling isolated from her peers. As an avid reader, she is highly intelligent but ties much of her self-worth to her physical appearance and the approval of others. Her diary serves as her closest confidante as she searches for empathy and connection in a confusing world.

Chris is a stylish teenager who straightens her hair and wears trendy fashions. She feels alienated by her parents—a traveling father and a mother heavily involved in volunteer work. She builds a close bond with Alice based on their shared dissatisfaction with authority and family life.

Joel is an accelerated university student who works nights as a janitor to finance his education following his father's death. He is highly disciplined and mature, offering Alice a relationship based on communication rather than physical intimacy.

Jan is a hostile school peer who targets Alice relentlessly. She spreads rumors, organizes bullying campaigns, and actively attempts to sabotage Alice's efforts to reform her life.

Alice's mother is a traditional homemaker who manages the household and cares for the family. She frequently criticizes Alice's diet, clothing choices, and hairstyles, believing that a clean-cut appearance prevents dangerous behavior. Though she deeply loves her children, her judgmental approach often pushes Alice further away.

Alice's father is a university professor who accepts a dean position in a new state, uprooting the family. He primarily works outside the home and leaves domestic disputes to his wife. He holds conservative political views, particularly regarding campus protests, and speaks to Alice more openly as she matures.

Tim is Alice's younger brother. He adapts easily to the family's new town, riding the bus with neighbors and making friends quickly. He maintains a clear, honorable outlook on life that Alice frequently admires.

Alexandria is Alice's younger sister. Like Tim, she easily finds her footing after the family moves, befriending a girl named Tricia right away. Her smooth transition contrasts sharply with Alice's social isolation.

Gran is Alice's grandmother. She provides Alice with a safe, comforting environment during summer vacations and gives traditional, sometimes outdated, advice. She loves her family deeply and relies heavily on them as she ages.

Gramps is Alice's grandfather and a former successful politician. He commands immense respect from Alice, who often measures her own worth against his career achievements. His declining health causes Alice significant anxiety.

Roger is Alice's initial romantic crush before her family moves. He is a good-looking teenager who plans to attend military school. His early rejection of Alice triggers her deep insecurities about her weight and appearance.

Beth is Alice's first genuine friend in her new town. The daughter of a doctor, she adheres to strict diets and feels nagged by her mother. She is Jewish and shares Alice's anxieties about dating and future marriage expectations.

Jill is an acquaintance from Alice's old school who runs with a popular crowd. She hosts social gatherings where guests play seemingly innocent games that actually involve mind-altering substances.

Bill is a teenager in Jill's social circle who asks Alice on a date. He provides Alice with access to a wider variety of illicit substances and becomes her first sexual partner.

Richie is a clean-cut college student studying medicine. He uses his respectable appearance to win the approval of Alice's parents while secretly using her and Chris to distribute illicit substances to younger students.

Ted is Richie's college roommate and business partner. He helps supply Alice and Chris with inventory for their illegal sales operation.

Shelia is a gorgeous, successful boutique owner in San Francisco. She hosts casual but dangerous parties at her upscale apartment, projecting a glamorous lifestyle that temporarily mesmerizes Chris and Alice.

Mr. Mellani is a warm, family-oriented business owner in San Francisco. He frequently speaks about his wife and eight children, eventually inviting Alice and Chris to his home for dinner.

Doris is a 14-year-old runaway with a tragic background of severe domestic abuse. She shares her limited resources with Alice, and the two hitchhike together to Southern California.

Babbie is a 13-year-old girl placed in a psychiatric institution. She relies on her excellent academic record to hide her extensive history of trading sexual favors for illicit substances.

Fawn is a high school student who deliberately avoids peer groups involved with illicit substances. She provides Alice with an entry into a more straitlaced social circle upon Alice's return home.