Toswiah is a thirteen-year-old girl who is forced to leave Denver and adopt the identity of Evie Thomas after her father breaks the police code of silence. Naturally observant and quiet, she deeply misses her lifelong best friend and the familiarity of her old name. She tries to find footing in her new, lonely reality by secretly joining the school track team.

Cameron is Toswiah's fourteen-year-old sister who adopts the palindrome name Anna to resist having her identity entirely erased. Formerly a popular cheerleader in Denver, she reacts to the relocation with vocal anger and frequent crying. She channels her intense desire to escape into her academics, aiming to earn early admission to a distant college.

Jonathan is a dedicated police officer from a family with a long history in law enforcement. As the only Black officer in his precinct, his decision to testify against two white colleagues who shot an unarmed Black boy shatters his career and community standing. Relocated under the name Evan Thomas, he deals with profound depression and the loss of his life's purpose.

Shirley is a formerly beloved teacher and passionate cook whose entire reality is dismantled by her husband's testimony. To survive the trauma of losing her home and career, she converts to the Jehovah's Witness faith. She enforces strict religious rules on her daughters, giving up birthday celebrations and holidays.

Officer Randall is a white policeman in Denver and a former colleague of Jonathan Green. He is involved in the shooting of an unarmed Black teenager, claiming self-defense. His actions and subsequent defense force Jonathan to break the police department's wall of silence.

Lulu is Toswiah's lifelong best friend from Denver. Born a month early in the same hospital as Toswiah, the two girls share a birthday and consider themselves practically family. Her absence leaves a massive emotional void in Toswiah's new life.

Toswiah and Cameron's grandmother stays behind in Denver because she is too old to undergo a drastic relocation. She maintains contact with her family through monthly letters sent via federal channels. These letters omit real names and locations but provide essential emotional support.

Officer Dennis is a policeman in Denver who works alongside Officer Randall. He participates in the fatal shooting of Raymond Taylor, insisting the unarmed teenager was reaching for a weapon.

Raymond is a young Black teenager and honors student in Denver. He is shot and killed by the police while standing with his arms raised. His death acts as the catalyst for the novel's central conflict.

Joseph is Officer Randall's son and Cameron's former romantic interest. Following the shooting, he protects his father by spreading rumors at school that Jonathan Green is a liar, turning the student body against the Green family.

Inspector Oliver is a police authority figure who meets with Jonathan Green to discuss his intended testimony. He strongly advises Jonathan against speaking out, emphasizing the danger of breaking police loyalty and destroying the offending officers' family legacies.

Coach Leigh is a geometry teacher and the track coach at Evie and Anna's new school. He quickly recognizes Evie's running potential, provides her with necessary equipment, and gives her a reason to look forward to school.

Mira is a friendly girl on the school track team. She is the first person to offer Evie a warm welcome, complimenting her running ability and giving her playful nicknames.

Toswiah is a short, loud, and highly social classmate at Evie's new school. She happens to share Evie's real birth name. Initially suspicious of Evie's background, she gradually becomes friendly.

Tamara is a student at the new school who belongs to Toswiah's friend group. She openly doubts Evie's fabricated story about moving from San Francisco.

Carlos is a boy in Evie's class who offers a small, innocuous gesture of kindness by giving her a chocolate kiss.

Sheila is the extroverted Toswiah's older, developmentally disabled sister. Evie encounters her while running in the park.

Matt Cat is the Green family's pet cat. Due to the sudden and secretive nature of their relocation, the family is forced to leave the cat behind to live with Grandma.