Jude is a twelve-year-old Syrian girl with a deep love for American movies and a sharp eye for observation. When political unrest threatens her hometown, she and her pregnant mother leave for Cincinnati, Ohio, to live with relatives. In America, Jude faces the challenges of learning English, adapting to a new culture, and finding her own voice. She strives to remain brave despite missing her father and older brother.

Mama is Jude's mother, who travels to Cincinnati to escape the growing political violence in Syria. She is pregnant and fiercely protective of her children. In America, she seeks out a local mosque and holds tightly to her traditional cooking and values, sometimes clashing with her brother's more assimilated lifestyle.

Baba is Jude's father, who runs a store selling snacks and magazines to tourists in their seaside city. He values stability and prefers the current government over the chaos of revolution. He stays behind to protect his business when his wife and daughter leave for America, maintaining contact through video calls.

Issa is Jude's older brother and her favorite person in the world. He strongly supports democratic reform in Syria and attends revolutionary meetings. His political idealism puts him at odds with Baba, and his willingness to face danger terrifies his mother and sister.

Layla is an eighth-grade girl whose Lebanese parents run a restaurant in Cincinnati. She was born in America, though strangers often assume she is an immigrant based on her appearance and headscarf. She bonds with Jude over familiar foods and shared experiences.

Uncle Mazin is Mama's brother, a successful doctor who has lived in the United States for years. He enjoys modern electronics and crisp suits, fully embracing his life in Cincinnati. His assimilation creates friction with Mama, who fears he has forgotten his Syrian roots.

Aunt Michelle is Uncle Mazin's American wife, who studied French literature in college. She decorates her home in bright white furnishings and tries earnestly to make Jude and Mama feel welcome. She is kind but sometimes struggles to understand the cultural significance of Middle Eastern traditions.

Sarah is the daughter of Uncle Mazin and Aunt Michelle. She acts aloof and prioritizes fitting in with her trendy friends at school. She often ignores Jude in public spaces, embarrassed by her cousin's differences and protective of her own social status.

Fatima is Jude's cousin and closest friend in Syria. She is twenty-four days older than Jude and begins maturing faster, wearing a headscarf and showing interest in older things. Despite these changes, she shares Jude's love of American romantic comedies and dreams of stardom.

Miles is a quiet boy in Jude's pre-algebra class who consistently wears shirts featuring outer space. He owns a dog named Sputnik and understands what it feels like to stand out or be viewed differently by peers.

Omar is a student from Somalia in the English as a Second Language class. He brings a sense of camaraderie to the group and celebrates making the school soccer team.

Grace is a student from Korea in the English as a Second Language class. She practices English conversation with Jude and shares her experiences of adjusting to American language quirks.

Ben is a student from China in the English as a Second Language class. He works on his English proficiency and prepares for his family's citizenship ceremony, serving as a supportive peer to the other immigrant students.

Mrs. Ravenswood is the teacher for the ESL class at Jude's new school. She creates a welcoming environment for immigrant students, provides cupcakes to celebrate their milestones, and offers simple, genuine compliments that boost Jude's confidence.

Mrs. Bloom is the drama director at Jude's middle school. She manages the auditions for *Beauty and the Beast* and values spirit and courage in her performers.

Aunt Amal is Fatima's mother and a close family member to Jude. She brings expensive cake from the bakery to celebrate Jude's impending trip and cares deeply for her family's well-being.

Sammy, short for Samara, is a wealthy tourist visiting Jude's coastal city from Damascus. She stays at a luxury beachfront hotel, wears expensive clothing, and considers Jude's favorite movies to be old-fashioned.

Harper is one of Sarah's friends at school in Cincinnati. She socializes with Sarah and expresses interest in working on the sets for the school play.