Danny is a high school senior and talented artist living in Cupertino, California. He enjoys a stable life with supportive parents and a tight-knit friend group, but he struggles with internal anxieties, including artist's block and the fear of being a fraud. Finding a box of mysterious papers belonging to his father prompts him to question what he actually knows about his family's past. He hopes attending art school will validate his artistic ambitions.

Danny's parents are Chinese immigrants who have worked hard to provide a comfortable life for their son in California. His father is a physicist who recently restarted a controversial experiment, while his mother tends to a beloved garden and occasionally experiences panic attacks. They are highly supportive of Danny's artistic ambitions but maintain strict silence about their life before his birth. Their sudden financial troubles create heavy tension within the household.

Harry is Danny's best friend, an overachieving student from a wealthy Taiwanese family whose primary goal is attending Princeton. He frequently returns to Taiwan and is deeply connected to his cultural heritage, speaking his family's native language. He carries immense pressure from his parents and sometimes relies on unhealthy habits to manage his stress. His magnetic personality often masks a deep fear of the future.

Regina is a passionate high school journalist hoping to attend Northwestern University. She possesses strong convictions about journalistic integrity and frequently writes controversial stories for the school paper. Lately, she has distanced herself from her church community and appears to carry unaddressed trauma. She proposes running a memorial spread in the school newspaper to honor her deceased friend.

Sandra is a former classmate who died by suicide during their junior year. She struggled with depression and the feeling that she was a failure in her parents' eyes. Her death casts a long shadow over the high school, profoundly affecting her remaining friends and altering the social dynamics of her peers.

Clay Ballard is an unknown white man whose photographs and paperwork are hidden in a box belonging to Danny's father. Danny uncovers that Clay went to the University of Texas in Austin and currently works as the head of a debt-collecting company. His existence introduces a deep mystery into the Cheng household.

Mr. X is the mental moniker Danny gives to an unnamed white man who hurled racist insults at him during his childhood. The man told a young Danny to go back to where he came from while he was drawing with chalk on the sidewalk. This memory functions as Danny's internal voice of harsh self-criticism.

Ethan is Danny's childhood best friend and former next-door neighbor from his time living in Austin. The two boys were once exceptionally close before Danny's family relocated to California abruptly. Danny views him as a potential link to understanding his family's history.

Vivian is an Asian artist exhibiting her work at a gallery in San Francisco. She offers Danny practical advice about the sacrifices required to pursue an artistic career. She encourages him to submit his pieces to a showcase for young creators.

Grace is a high school student who attends the same church as Regina. She notices Regina's absence from church events and expresses concern over her shifting behavior. She approaches Danny's lunch table to inquire about her friend's well-being.

Mina is a member of Regina's church community. Along with Grace, she attempts to check on Regina after noticing her stepping back from their religious group. She represents the social circles Regina is currently avoiding.