Maizy is a 12-year-old girl from Los Angeles experiencing severe culture shock in a small Midwestern town. As the only child of color in Last Chance, she faces uncomfortable questions and outright bullying regarding her background. She is highly observant, quietly processing the tension between her mother and grandmother while eagerly soaking up her grandfather's stories about their family history.

Opa is Maizy's grandfather and the co-owner of the town's Chinese restaurant. Confined to his home and a wheelchair due to advanced heart disease, he spends his days watching a travel food show and dealing cards. He decides to use his limited time to pass down the family's history, recounting the long journey of his own grandfather to Maizy.

Oma is Maizy's grandmother, a strict and hardworking woman who keeps the Golden Palace running single-handedly while her husband is ill. She harbors deep frustration regarding her daughter's career choices and departure from Last Chance. Despite her rough exterior and sharp criticisms, she shows quiet generosity to her employees.

Charlotte is Maizy's mother, a Los Angeles-based food stylist who uses inedible props to make food look perfect for television commercials. Her return to Minnesota triggers immediate anxiety due to a strained relationship with her parents, who do not understand or support her non-traditional career path.

Lucky is Maizy's great-great-grandfather, whose immigration journey forms the historical backbone of Opa's daily stories. He travels from China to the United States hoping to find wealth in the "Gold Mountains" to support his impoverished family, eventually taking on dangerous work cooking for railroad camps.

Logan is a friendly local boy whose family owns the town's bait store. He immediately welcomes Maizy to Last Chance, asking about her life in Los Angeles rather than questioning her racial background like many other townspeople do.

Werner is a local restaurant owner and Opa's former best friend. The two men had a severe falling out years ago and no longer speak, though Werner still expresses quiet, lingering concern for Opa's health.

Known privately as "Lady Macbeth" by Charlotte, Lady Beth is recognized as the richest woman in Last Chance. She is a frequent, highly demanding customer at the Golden Palace who orders unusually large amounts of food.

Mayor Whitlock serves as both the town's political leader and the editor of the local newspaper. He presents himself as a friendly authority figure eager to document local events for his publication.

Principal Holmes is the head of the local school and an old high school friend of Charlotte. He acts as a friendly, responsible presence in town who steps in to stop bullying when he sees it.

Daisy is a dedicated employee at the Golden Palace. She relies heavily on her job at the restaurant and quietly receives extra financial help from Oma, who secretly supplements her tip jar.

Eva works at the local soda fountain. She engages Maizy in an uncomfortable conversation, repeatedly asking where she is "from" until Maizy states her race, making her feel alienated.

Erik is a local teenager who brings a date to the Golden Palace. While eating there, he casually makes derogatory, racist comments about Chinese people in front of the staff.

Ginger is Maizy's best friend in Los Angeles. They stay in touch over the phone, and Ginger shares her own experiences with racism to help Maizy process the uncomfortable encounters she faces in Last Chance.

Riley is a local girl who witnesses her friends bullying Maizy by pulling at their eyelids. Unlike the others, she does not actively participate in mocking Maizy's features, though she initially does nothing to stop it.