Ruthie is a ten-year-old immigrant from Cuba living in Queens, New York, in 1966. She is a bright, confident student who loves playing hopscotch in her white go-go boots and deeply wishes for her family to find happiness in America. When a serious car accident leaves her bedridden in a full body cast for months, she faces immense physical and emotional challenges. During her confinement, she works to manage her fear, boredom, and changing relationships with those around her.

Rebecca is a charming Cuban immigrant who deeply misses her home country and often struggles with homesickness. As a traditional wife and mother, she focuses on keeping the apartment clean and preparing meals for her family. When Ruthie is injured, she becomes her daughter's primary caretaker, dealing with exhaustion, isolation, and frustration over the difficult circumstances.

Alberto is a hardworking immigrant who works two jobs to support his family in New York. He embraces the freedoms of America, eagerly purchasing items like a blue Oldsmobile to enjoy his hard-earned money. His spontaneous spending sometimes causes friction with his wife, and he carries significant guilt following the family's severe car accident.

Chicho is a cheerful, loud neighbor from Mexico who quickly befriends the Mizrahi family. He takes a genuine interest in Ruthie's recovery, eating dinner with her in her room and painting beautiful images on her cast. He provides her with art supplies and encourages her creativity, acting as an optimistic mentor during her confinement.

Danielle is an elegant girl from Belgium who frequently plays hopscotch with Ruthie. She speaks with a French accent and dresses well, representing a life of sophistication that Ruthie admires. Though the reality of Ruthie's injury strains their connection at first, their bond remains important to Ruthie.

Amara is a tough, fearless Puerto Rican nurse who lives in the Bronx. She has a facial scar from a past altercation and sports visible muscles. Her strict, no-nonsense approach challenges Ruthie during her long recovery, forcing her to confront her anxieties.

Ramu is an Indian immigrant who shares a mutual respect with Ruthie based on their academic struggles and experiences in a new country. He is a loyal friend who sneaks away to visit Ruthie and passes notes to her despite his mother's strict rules against playing with non-Indian children.

Isaac is Ruthie's younger brother who shares a bedroom with her in their small Queens apartment. He is an active, energetic boy who enjoys playing outside and receiving toys from his father. He shows care for his sister by sneaking her treats and passing notes for her while she is confined to bed.

Baba is Ruthie's grandmother, a Jewish immigrant who moved from Poland to Cuba before coming to America. She works at a discount fabric store and tries to remain patient and optimistic. She shares stories of her past with Ruthie to help distract her during recovery.

Zeide is Ruthie's grandfather, who previously owned a fabric business in Cuba before it was taken by the government. He now works at a discount fabric store in New York and tries to support his daughter as she handles the burden of Ruthie's care.

Aunt Sylvia is Ruthie's aunt who lives in the same apartment building as the Mizrahis. She is part of the extended Cuban family network that provides company and support to Ruthie's parents in New York.

Uncle Bill is Sylvia's husband, known for having a thick American accent. He tries to encourage the family to appreciate the opportunities they have in America and frequently offers his perspective on their situation.

Dennis is Ruthie's cousin and the twin brother of Lily. He is close in age to Isaac and often plays with him, occasionally visiting Ruthie's room to toss a ball or show off Halloween costumes.

Lily is Ruthie's cousin and Dennis's twin sister. She is a curious young girl whose eager attempts to see Ruthie's cast inadvertently threaten Ruthie's privacy and modesty early in her recovery.

Joy is a young teacher who dresses in hippie-style clothing, including bell-bottoms and peasant blouses. She is highly encouraging, recognizing Ruthie's intelligence and assigning her challenging reading materials like Nancy Drew mysteries, Greek myths, and poetry.

Dr. Friendlich is the physician responsible for Ruthie's medical care following her broken femur. He makes the crucial decision to place her in a full body cast to ensure her legs grow evenly, setting the timeline for her lengthy recovery.

Mrs. Sharma is Ramu's mother, who is highly protective of her family and hesitant to let her children assimilate completely into American culture. She enforces strict rules about who Ramu can play with outside of school hours.

Mr. Sharma is Ramu's father and the head of the Sharma household. He manages the family's affairs and interacts with neighbors when necessary.

Avik is Ramu's little brother. He lives with his family in the same apartment building as the Mizrahis, where his strict mother keeps a close watch on her children.

Mrs. Levy-Cohen is Danielle's mother, a brave woman born in Morocco who moved to Belgium and eventually America. She serves healthy treats and fresh pastry puffs to the girls and encourages their friendship.

Gladys is a Cuban immigrant and friend of the family who lives in a fancy house in Staten Island. She prepares large, traditional meals and misses living near Rebecca as they did in Cuba.

Oscar is Gladys's husband, a successful Cuban immigrant. He smokes Cuban cigars with Alberto after dinner and reminds the family to focus on moving forward in their new country.

Rosa is the infant daughter of Gladys and Oscar, living comfortably in their large Staten Island home.

Neala is a hospital nurse who initially snaps at Ruthie for wetting the bed. After Ruthie questions if she hates children, Neala reveals she is stressed about leaving her own sick daughter to work, leading to a more compassionate dynamic.

Bobbie is a kind ambulance attendant who helps carry Ruthie to and from the hospital. He protects her privacy from curious neighborhood children and instructs her parents on how to care for her cast.

Clay is an ambulance attendant who partners with Bobbie. He assists in safely moving Ruthie in her heavy body cast and eventually helps carry her outside for a change of scenery.

Mark is Chicho's friend who works as a nurse at the hospital. He helps rearrange Ruthie's room so she can see outside and arranges for her to be brought outside to enjoy the snow.

Mrs. Sarota is a teacher at Public School 117. She is willing to give her students a chance to advance, allowing both Ruthie and Ramu to move to the regular class after they prove their spelling skills.

Ava is described as a plain American girl who plays outside with Ruthie. She occasionally teases Ruthie and struggles to understand the immigrant experience.

June is an American classmate who plays in the neighborhood. She laughs when Ruthie explains why she will not wear her new boots outside, showing a lack of understanding of Ruthie's circumstances.