Elsa is a highly intelligent, precocious seven-year-old girl who frequently corrects other people's grammar and wears her beloved Gryffindor scarf everywhere. Her advanced vocabulary and unique personality make her a target for bullies at school, leading her to rely heavily on her eccentric grandmother as her only friend. She uses her grandmother's fairy tales about the Land-of-Almost-Awake as a coping mechanism for her parents' divorce and the daily challenges of fitting in.

Granny is Elsa's 77-year-old grandmother, an eccentric former surgeon who traveled to war-torn countries to save children. She is impulsive, fiercely protective of Elsa, and openly dismisses societal rules and conventions. Facing illness, she creates a magical fairy-tale world for Elsa and sends her granddaughter on a treasure hunt involving apology letters to their various neighbors.

Elsa's mother is the manager at a hospital and operates as the polar opposite of Granny. She is highly organized, strictly rule-abiding, and deeply values efficiency, which puts her at constant odds with Granny's chaotic nature. Pregnant with her second child, she struggles to balance her exasperation with Granny and her quiet love for Elsa.

Britt-Marie is the self-appointed authority figure of the apartment building who insists on strict adherence to rules. She constantly nags the other tenants, especially Mum and Granny, and fiercely supports her husband, Kent. Beneath her judgmental exterior lies a deep desire to be needed and recognized by those around her.

A reclusive tenant on the first floor who never goes out during the day and inspires fear among the neighbors. Elsa initially imagines him as a terrifying beast due to his scarred face, but he is a deeply traumatized former soldier with an obsessive hand-washing habit and a surprisingly gentle nature. He corresponds to the brave warrior in Granny's fairy tales.

Elsa's father is a tentative, highly organized man who struggles with unexpected messes. He is divorced from Mum and now married to Lisette, living in a very tidy home. He shares Elsa's deep love for language and vocabulary, though his cautious nature makes his interactions with his daughter somewhat awkward.

An enormous, terrifying-looking black hound kept secretly by Granny in the apartment building. Represented as a fierce palace guard in Granny's fairy tales, the dog is intensely loyal and becomes Elsa's faithful defender against bullies and external threats.

A gruff, swearing taxi driver who wears a leather jacket and harbors a crusty exterior. Despite his irascible demeanor and history of conflicts within his own family, he acts as a watchful guardian for Elsa and the other tenants, stepping in to help during dangerous moments.

A tenant who leads a double life: by day, she is a put-together therapist, but by night, she drinks heavily to cope with profound personal loss from a tsunami. Known as the "sea-angel" in Granny's stories, she initially keeps everyone at a distance to protect herself from the pain of her past.

An entrepreneur and Britt-Marie's husband who views the world strictly through a lens of financial profit. He is pompous, frequently tells people how much things cost, and actively campaigns to turn the rental apartments into leaseholds to make money for himself.

An older couple in the building described by Elsa as the two nicest people in the world. Lennart is always brewing coffee, and Maud is perpetually baking cookies. They possess an inherent kindness and remain deeply devoted to their family, even in the face of profound tragedy and danger.

A gentle boy who is a year younger than Elsa and has an unspecified syndrome. He does not speak but expresses himself through constant dancing and laughter. In Granny's fairy tales, he represents "The Chosen One," possessing a pureness of spirit that brings joy to the apartment residents.

Mum's immensely likable, athletic boyfriend who is expecting a child with her. He frequently tries to connect with Elsa and make her feel comfortable, though she stubbornly keeps him at arm's length to protect herself from disappointment.

A dangerous, violent man struggling with drug addiction who stalks the apartment building. Represented as a "shadow" or "dragon" in the Land-of-Almost-Awake, he brings a very real threat to the tenants as he searches for his estranged family, eventually mistaking Elsa for his son.

A dedicated policewoman who frequently encounters Granny's antics. She maintains a firm but familiar approach to law enforcement and harbors a deeper childhood connection to Mum and the apartment building's residents.

A trusted friend of Granny's who acts as the landlords' accountant and helps manage the apartment building's affairs. He operates quietly behind the scenes to ensure Granny's final wishes regarding Elsa and the tenants are respected.

Dad's new wife, who lives with him in a highly organized home. She is a massive fan of *Star Wars* and attempts to welcome Elsa during her weekend visits, though Elsa remains somewhat distant to avoid disrupting their tidy life.

A young girl at Elsa's school who is also considered "different" from the other children. She becomes Elsa's first real friend among her peers, helping to form a supportive circle for children who do not fit into the standard mold.