Lanesha is a twelve-year-old girl living in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Born with a caul, she possesses the supernatural ability to see ghosts, a trait that socially isolates her from many of her peers. She relies on her sharp mind and loves math, Shakespeare, and drawing bridges. She is deeply devoted to her guardian, Mama Ya-Ya, and exhibits remarkable maturity and empathy toward others as a severe storm approaches her city.

Mama Ya-Ya, born Dolores, is an eighty-two-year-old woman who raised Lanesha from birth. A former neighborhood midwife, she keeps an altar dedicated to Catholic saints and voodoo gods in her bedroom. She possesses special perceptive abilities, relying on dreams and natural signs to predict the future. She offers unconditional love to Lanesha but grows increasingly agitated as she senses an approaching storm.

TaShon is a boy in Lanesha's grade who lives in the Ninth Ward. Small for his age, he was born with extra fingers that his father subsequently removed. He often faces bullying from older boys like Max but finds solace and courage when he adopts a stray dog. His gentle nature makes him an eager ally to Lanesha.

Ginia is a popular student at Lanesha's middle school. Unlike many other peers who tease Lanesha, Ginia shows genuine interest in spending time with her. She shares that her own grandmother has special perceptive abilities, making her open and understanding of Lanesha's unique household.

Lanesha's Mother is the spirit of a young woman from the wealthy Uptown Fontaine family. She died at the age of seventeen while giving birth to Lanesha in Mama Ya-Ya's house. She lingers in the home as a ghost, typically remaining silent and unresponsive to Lanesha's childhood attempts at communication.

Spot is a stray dog that TaShon rescues on the street. Though TaShon insists he is a German Shepherd, he appears to be a mixed breed. He stays at Lanesha's house to keep him safe, quickly settling in as a comforting presence for both Lanesha and Mama Ya-Ya.

Miss Johnson is Lanesha's math teacher. Recognizing Lanesha's exceptional talent with numbers, she provides weekly advanced lessons and encourages her to consider a career in engineering. She actively nurtures Lanesha's intellectual curiosity.

Max is a tough boy from Lanesha's school who bullies smaller children. He runs with a small group of friends but backs down when Lanesha confidently stands up to him, wary of her reputation in the neighborhood.

Miss Perry is Lanesha's language arts teacher. She introduces vocabulary words to her students, including the word "fortitude," which deeply resonates with Lanesha and shapes her mindset.

Pastor Williams is a local clergyman who checks on the neighborhood residents as the weather worsens. He shares a brief but meaningful connection to Lanesha's past, offering her reassurance about her mother's feelings for her.

Andrew is a classmate of Lanesha's who processes the world in his own unique way. He asks abstract questions about math and observes nature closely, existing outside the popular social circles at the middle school.

Mrs. Watson is a neighbor in the Ninth Ward. As the storm approaches, she prepares to evacuate her family to Baton Rouge and expresses genuine concern for Lanesha and Mama Ya-Ya's safety.

Mr. Ng runs the local store in the Ninth Ward. He knows the neighborhood residents well and casually converses with Lanesha about Mama Ya-Ya's supernatural perceptions.