Bridget is a seventh-grade student who survived a severe roller-skating accident at age eight. The physical trauma left her with lingering sensations, sudden muscle freezing, and vivid night terrors. She begins wearing cat ears to school simply because they feel right on her head, signaling her search for identity. She joins the stage tech crew to find a quiet place to belong outside of her core friend group.

Emily is one of Bridget's closest friends who recently experienced a sudden physical growth spurt. Her maturation brings her success on the soccer field but also attracts intense attention from peers and older boys. She becomes romantically interested in an eighth-grader named Patrick, leading her to make choices regarding text messages and photos that test her self-image and relationships.

Tabitha is the third member of Bridget and Emily's friend trio. She is an outspoken and confident seventh grader who idolizes her English teacher. She throws her energy into the Human Rights Club and recycling projects, constantly sharing social justice concepts with her friends to combat gender inequality.

Sherman is a quiet, thoughtful seventh grader who joins the school tech crew. He hides a deep sadness over his grandfather's sudden and unexplained departure from his family. He copes by writing unsent letters to his grandfather and finds a genuine connection with Bridget as they work the stage lights together.

Celeste is Tabitha's older sister who attends the local high school. To the middle schoolers, she appears confident and poised, offering Bridget advice on messy buns and makeup application. Privately, Celeste struggles with body image insecurities and works through the painful realities of changing friendships in her own social circle.

Jamie is Bridget's older brother and a high school track athlete. He shares a healthy, supportive bond with his sister and actively helps her manage her night terrors. He enters into an obsessive step-counting bet with his friend Alex to win back a beloved band t-shirt.

Mrs. Barsamian is Bridget and Jamie's mother. She works as an accomplished cellist who frequently travels to perform at celebrity weddings. Despite her busy schedule, she remains highly attentive to her children, stepping in to soothe Bridget during her frequent night terrors.

Mr. Barsamian is Bridget and Jamie's father and the owner of the local coffee shop, the Bean Bar. He stepped away from a previous demanding career to spend more time at home following Bridget's childhood accident.

Patrick is an eighth-grade student who shows romantic interest in Emily. He initiates a relationship primarily through text messages, requesting and sending personal photos. His actions force Emily to make difficult decisions about her body and reputation.

Adrienne is an eighteen-year-old cashier at the Bean Bar. She graduated high school early to pursue a career in boxing and uses the coffee shop job to pay her bills. She presents a tough exterior but shows kindness and offers free food to the younger teenagers who enter the shop.

Ms. Berman is an English teacher and the sponsor of the Human Rights Club. She insists her students call her 'the Berperson' to remove the male identifier from her name. She acts as a feminist mentor to Tabitha.

Alex is Jamie's high school friend. He initiates a daily step-counting bet with Jamie over a Rolling Stones t-shirt, pushing the competition to an extreme and humiliating degree.

Nonno Gio is Sherman's grandfather. He recently left his wife of fifty years to start a new life in New Jersey, leaving his grandson confused and heartbroken. He attempts to stay in contact via text messages.

Nonna is Sherman's grandmother. She remains in the family home following her husband's sudden departure, translating books from English to Italian and baking cookies for her grandson.

Apollo is Sherman's father and a practicing cardiologist. He struggles to explain his own father's sudden departure while maintaining stability for his son and mother.

Mr. Partridge is a teacher at the middle school who sponsors the tech crew and the Banana Splits club. He teaches his students the emotional importance of supporting performers from behind the scenes.

Vinny is a high school student and a former close friend of Celeste. She has a dominating personality and enjoys playing games that single out, control, or embarrass her peers.

Gina is a high school student and friend to Celeste. She harbors a secret crush on an older boy, making her vulnerable to the shifting dynamics of her friend group.

Evan is Emily's nine-year-old younger brother. He struggles with nightmares following his parents' divorce and occasionally reads tarot cards for Emily and her friends.

Emily's mother shares custody of her children following a divorce. She maintains an open, supportive dialogue with Emily and refuses to shame her when she makes poor choices regarding boys.

Julie is an older, popular eighth-grade girl on the soccer team. She spends time with Emily and goads her into sending risky text messages to Patrick.