Kingston is a 12-year-old Black boy living in a small Louisiana town. He copes with the recent, sudden death of his older brother by recording his brother's past philosophical musings in a journal and imagining that his sibling has become a dragonfly. Quiet and introspective, he struggles with his personal identity and his changing family dynamic.

Charles is a white middle schooler who was formerly Kingston's closest friend. Their bond broke after Charles shared that he is gay, prompting Kingston to pull away. Charles comes from a family with a deeply racist history, creating tension in his small town. Despite the rejection, he remains steadfast in his identity and refuses to feel ashamed.

Khalid is Kingston's 16-year-old older brother who recently passed away suddenly in his sleep. Before his death, he often pondered the mysteries of the universe, believing that people are not just their bodies and that time is all one. Though deeply loving toward his brother, he held rigid beliefs about societal expectations, which heavily influence Kingston's current choices.

Reginald is Kingston and Khalid's father. Working in construction, he holds traditional, old-school beliefs about masculinity, insisting that boys do not cry and men belong out of the kitchen. The sudden death of his eldest son disrupts his rigid worldview, leading him to show unprecedented emotional vulnerability while still holding onto prejudices.

The local town sheriff and the father of Charles and Mikey. He carries a racist reputation within the community, enforcing the law with bias. His imposing presence creates fear among the town's Black residents, making Kingston wary of interacting with him or his family.

Kingston's mother works at the local post office and is struggling profoundly with the loss of Khalid. Once the primary cook of the house, she has ceased her usual routines and avoids fully processing her grief. She attempts to maintain an outward appearance of normalcy for the sake of her family.

Mikey is Charles's older brother and the grandson of a Ku Klux Klan member. He has a troubled reputation in town, with rumors suggesting he participated in a racially motivated crime. Despite this history and his past physical altercations with Khalid, he shows brief, unexpected kindness to Kingston.

Jasmine is a middle school student and Kingston's closest remaining friend. She writes movie scripts and is eager to explore the possibility of a romantic relationship with Kingston. Her darker skin tone makes Kingston consider the prejudices she might face in their community.

Darrell is a middle school classmate who often hangs out with Kingston. He is interested in dating Breanna but worries about superficial issues like their height difference. He frequently participates in school gossip and values peer perception.

Camille is a student at Kingston's middle school known for knowing everyone's business. She serves as the primary source of rumors among the student body, quickly spreading information about her peers' private lives.

Breanna is a middle school student in Kingston's social circle. She is taller than the boys in her grade and holds strong opinions about accepting people for who they are, disregarding what others might say.

Auntie Idris is a relative living in New Orleans who provides a safe, spiritual anchor for the James family. She possesses a deep belief in the spirit world, drawing comfort from her own deceased father's visits in her dreams.

Tony is one of the students in Kingston's middle school class. He represents the broader peer group that Kingston interacts with on a daily basis while processing his changing social world.