Tiger is a 16-year-old girl living with her single mother in an isolated, closely guarded environment. Following her mother's sudden death, she is forced into the state care system because she has no known extended family. She initially wears old-fashioned thrifted clothes and struggles with profound emotional withdrawal, but she shows fierce resilience as she searches for a stable home.

June is Tiger's single mother who works hard to provide for them despite constant financial struggles. She is highly protective of her daughter, keeping her sheltered from standard teenage experiences due to her own difficult childhood. Her sudden death from a brain aneurysm forces Tiger into the state system.

Cake is Tiger's loyal best friend who plays in a band with her. Coming from a stable home with two parents, she tries her best to support her grieving friend but struggles to fully understand the depth of Tiger's loss. She is highly self-sacrificing, often prioritizing Tiger's needs over her own ambitions.

Shayna is Tiger's 20-year-old half-sister. Despite a complicated past involving an abusive relationship, she travels from Hawaii to take over Tiger's guardianship. She is resourceful, charming, and capable of quickly sorting out household problems to provide Tiger with a sense of family.

Ray is Shayna's abusive ex-boyfriend who refuses to accept the end of their relationship. His aggressive behavior forces Shayna to flee Hawaii and disrupts her attempts to create a stable home for Tiger.

Thaddeus is an older boy who has spent years in the foster system before being adopted by LaLa. He works at a local ranch to support himself and aims to eventually rescue his younger sister. Having endured a traumatic childhood, he offers Tiger empathy and a listening ear.

Mae-Lynn is a quiet student at Tiger's school who joins the grief group after losing her father to cancer. She bonds quickly with Tiger over their shared experiences of parental loss and provides crucial emotional support.

Dustin is Tiger and Shayna's biological father. He is currently incarcerated due to driving intoxicated and causing an injury. Despite his past mistakes, he desires a connection with his daughters.

Karen is the social worker assigned to Tiger's case. She follows strict state protocols but occasionally bends the rules to allow Tiger small comforts, attempting to find a permanent placement for her amid the system's ongoing challenges.

Kai is a boy at school whom Tiger likes and hopes to attend a dance with. He breaks the news of her mother's death to her, leading to a complicated falling out between them as Tiger processes her anger.

LaLa is a pleasant and warm foster mother who takes Tiger in temporarily. She provides a safe and relatively stable environment, having informally adopted Thaddeus and caring for several other young children.

Sarah is a 10-year-old foster child living with LaLa. She previously experienced homelessness and permanent separation from her sister, making her highly anxious about family stability.

Leonard is a young boy living at LaLa's house who was placed in the system as a baby. His abrupt relocation to another facility underscores the unpredictable nature of state care.

Georgia is a rigid foster mother who hosts Tiger for one night. She enforces strict house rules and shows little empathy for Tiger's emotional state or lack of appetite.

Lupe is a senior who initially bullies Tiger but later connects with her through the school's grief counseling sessions. She struggles with the loss of her brother and performs community service alongside Tiger.

Taran is a student who initially mocks Tiger but later displays genuine empathy. He attends the grief group with his brother after the sudden death of their father on the Interstate.

Alif is Taran's brother who joins the school counseling sessions to process the sudden loss of their parent.

Walrus is the school counselor who facilitates the student grief group. He provides a safe, non-judgmental space for the teenagers to process their shared pain and intervenes during a physical altercation at school.

Teddy runs a group home for girls who have encountered the juvenile legal system. She offers exceptional warmth and understanding, helping Tiger release her lingering guilt over her mother's death.

Rhonda is Cake's mother. She steps in to handle immediate logistical and emotional burdens for Tiger on the night of June's death, though she cannot legally prevent Tiger from entering state care.

Gabe is Cake's father. While he cares for Tiger, he becomes concerned that Tiger's severe grief is holding his daughter back from taking important musical opportunities.

Ellen is a classmate who openly mocks Tiger's appearance, provoking Tiger into a physical altercation that results in a school suspension.

Principal Vela is the school administrator who deals with the disciplinary fallout from Tiger's altercation with Ellen.

Luisa is a new case worker assigned to Tiger after a crisis leaves her disconnected from her sister. She transports Tiger to juvenile detention when no guardian can be reached.

Randy owns a local ranch where June used to spend time riding horses. He extends an open invitation to Tiger, providing a crucial link to her mother's hidden past.

Bonita is June's former colleague at the daycare. She provides crucial information by revealing the identity of Tiger's biological father.

Laura is a woman who worked alongside June at the University of New Mexico. She shares details about June's past relationships and sudden departure from town.

Andy is June's former boyfriend. He breaks up with June after Tiger breaks her arm while skating, an event that highlights June's severe overprotectiveness.

Sue is Kai's mother. She is on the phone with June when June suddenly suffers her fatal aneurysm, subsequently calling emergency services.

Esme is an older woman working at the local newspaper office. She helps Tiger edit June's obituary down to an affordable word count.

Wee-Wee is a girl in the juvenile detention center who explains the rules of the facility to Tiger upon her arrival.