Raspberry is a thirteen-year-old girl determined to earn enough cash to prevent her family from returning to homelessness. She consistently devises new entrepreneurial schemes, from selling expired chocolate and discounted pencils to cleaning houses for neighbors. Her intense focus on accumulating physical currency causes friction with her peers, as she often prioritizes financial security over social bonds. She keeps a hidden stash of money in her bedroom to maintain a sense of safety.

A hardworking single mother who holds multiple part-time jobs and attends college classes to improve her family's economic status. She serves as the head of the tenant cleanup committee and maintains strict behavioral standards for the neighborhood youth. Having survived domestic violence and periods of living on the streets, she dreams of moving out of the projects and into a neighborhood called Pecan Landings.

A privileged girl who transferred to the local magnet school following her parents' divorce. She frequently joins Raspberry's money-making ventures to afford expensive clothes and sneakers, participating out of a desire for material goods rather than actual necessity. She struggles with the shifting dynamics between her divorced parents and harbors hope that they will reunite.

A biracial girl of Black and Korean descent who feels alienated by her peers' racist comments. She works at her family's Afro-Soul and Korean fusion food truck but frequently expresses frustration with her parents regarding her heritage. She actively emphasizes her Black identity while resenting the microaggressions directed at her Korean background.

A compassionate friend raised by her grandparents after her mother left town years ago. She naturally gravitates toward helping others, occasionally taking on extra unpaid tasks when working cleaning jobs just to ensure residents are comfortable. She finds herself in need of a significant loan from Raspberry for hidden reasons, creating severe friction in their friendship.

A financially successful doctor and Zora's father. He grew up in the same housing projects where Momma currently lives, giving him a grounded understanding of lower-income struggles despite his current wealth. He maintains an active, supportive presence in his community and treats Momma with consistent respect.

A local boy who frequently uses humor and teasing to interact with Raspberry and Momma. He pays close attention to the neighborhood dynamics and masks his growing romantic interest in Raspberry with constant joking about her financial obsession.

Mai's biracial brother who comfortably embraces both his Black and Korean heritage. He frequently helps his parents operate their food truck and quickly defends his family against racist remarks from hostile classmates.

A resourceful local entrepreneur who operates a neighborhood car wash and manages various local properties. He maintains a scruffy appearance but earns a steady cash income through consistent labor, offering Raspberry employment when she needs money quickly.

The principal at the magnet school Raspberry attends. He strictly enforces school regulations and contacts parents when students misbehave, quickly shutting down Raspberry's unauthorized candy sales.

Mai and Ming's Korean father. He operates a fusion food truck with his wife and maintains his composure despite facing overt racism and mockery from local teenagers.

Mai and Ming's Black mother. She co-runs the successful Afro-Soul and Korean food truck with her husband, blending their cultural backgrounds into a profitable local business.

A stern but caring man who serves as Ja'nae's guardian. He monitors his finances closely and reacts with intense suspicion when money goes missing from his home, mistakenly accusing Raspberry of the theft.

A supportive guardian who raises Ja'nae alongside her husband. She previously provided crucial help to Momma during an injury, demonstrating her strong community ties and willingness to assist her neighbors.

A hostile classmate who directs racial slurs and mockery at Mai and her family. He specifically targets the Kims' food truck with bigoted assumptions and antagonistic behavior.

A demanding student at the magnet school who confronts Raspberry over spoiled candy. She openly expresses harsh judgments regarding Raspberry's history of homelessness.

An eccentric neighbor who hoards years' worth of clutter inside her apartment. She hires Raspberry and Ja'nae to clean her home but sternly refuses to let them throw any possessions away.

A troublesome young boy living in Raspberry's housing project. He frequently creates messes in the common areas, drawing stern reprimands from Momma, who manages the cleanup committee.

A neighborhood youth who causes persistent trouble with his friend Shoe. He acts out in the apartment building and occasionally torments older kids like Raspberry and Sato from the upper floors.

A woman who runs a dilapidated boardinghouse housing ten individuals with significant personal needs. She fails to pay Raspberry and her friends the originally promised amount after they spend hours cleaning the chaotic residence.

An estranged woman who left her daughter to be raised by her grandparents. She reaches out to Ja'nae claiming to need financial assistance for bus fare, causing significant emotional turmoil for her daughter.