Mia is a twelve-year-old aspiring writer who lives with her parents at the Calivista motel. She continually mails opinion pieces to newspapers despite receiving seventy-nine rejection letters. She holds strong opinions about the value of independent businesses and frequently stands up against racism and injustice. Early in the story, she travels to Beijing for a six-week family vacation, documenting her experiences in a journal.

Lupe is Mia's best friend. Her parents work at the Calivista motel, where she normally staffs the front desk alongside Mia. Recently, she tested into advanced geometry and literature classes, creating a demanding study schedule. She feels intense pressure to succeed academically as the first in her family with the opportunity to attend college.

Jason is a classmate who takes extracurricular culinary classes with the goal of becoming a chef. Unlike Mia, he admires large corporate chains because his father owns a restaurant franchise. He causes a major rift in his friendship with Mia when he leans across a table at a congee restaurant and kisses her without asking.

Hank serves as the marketing director for the Calivista motel and is famous among the residents for his saltine burgers. As a Black man, he frequently faces racial discrimination in Anaheim. Exhausted by the ongoing racial tension in the country, he accepts an invitation to join the Tang family on their vacation to Beijing.

Mom is Mia's mother, an immigrant working hard to build a successful life in the United States. She recently passed a teaching exam, bringing her closer to her dream of working as an educator. She worries deeply about appearances, particularly fearing that her relatives in China will judge her family's financial situation.

Dad manages daily operations and works as a professional cleaner at the Calivista. He is fiercely dedicated to providing a stereotypical American Dream for his family, including a house with a picket fence. He feels deeply insecure about his job title, going so far as to hide his profession from his former colleagues during his trip to China.

Shen is Mia's cousin who lives in Beijing. Due to the one-child policy, he and Mia grew up acting like siblings before she moved to America. He currently attends a rigorous, prestigious school and spends his weekends working with tutors. Despite his academic privileges, he feels alienated and faces bullying from his classmates.

Mr. Cooper holds a twenty-percent investment share in the Calivista motel. He operates with a strict corporate mindset, believing that business should never be personal. He strongly advocates selling the independently owned motel to a large vacation rental company for a quick, substantial profit.

Da-Shawn is a new student who recently moved from Connecticut. He is an avid reader and an exceptionally talented writer, quickly earning the title of "Most Creative Writer" on the classroom board. He has previous experience writing for a school newspaper and partners with Mia for a group assignment.

Lao Lao is Mia's maternal grandmother. She lives in a traditional siheyuan in Beijing and enjoys cooking large feasts for her extended family. She maintains her health by attending a fan exercise dance class in the park every morning, representing a connection to the neighborhood's long-standing community.

Lao Ye is Mia's maternal grandfather. He is highly supportive of Mia's creative ambitions and takes proactive steps to help her. Recognizing her talent, he takes a copy of her writing to a local publication, setting up an introduction that helps advance her journalistic goals.

Aunt Juli is Mom's sister. Following her husband's recent promotion, she lives a very comfortable life in a modern high-rise apartment and employs a professional cleaner. She approaches Mom about pooling their money to buy a modern apartment for their aging parents, unaware of the Tangs' tight financial situation in America.

Ms. Swann is Mia's English teacher at Anaheim Junior High. She runs a "Most" board recognizing creative and moving writers. When Mia asks for time off to visit China, Ms. Swann gives her a blank notebook and encourages her to journal about the trip.

Mr. Wang is the editor-in-chief of the China Kids Gazette, a publication aimed at young readers learning English. He appreciates Mia's accessible writing style and hires her to write a column about her life as a young girl in the United States.

Popsicle Grandpa is a kind elderly man from Mia's former neighborhood in China. He earned his nickname by giving free popsicles to children who shared what they learned in school that day. He places a high value on education because his own daughter lost her right to attend school during the Cultural Revolution.

Jose is Lupe's father. He works at the Calivista motel and acts as an investor in the property. He wakes up at the crack of dawn to distribute business cards, working tirelessly to support his daughter's educational ambitions.

Mrs. Garcia is Lupe's mother. She works incredibly hard at the Calivista and at a local taqueria, performing physical labor to help secure a better life for her family in the United States.

Mrs. Davis is a professional cleaner who works through an agency. She assists Dad with cleaning rooms at the Calivista during busy periods. When her agency signs an exclusive contract with a corporate mega-motel, she is temporarily forced to stop working at the Calivista.

Nai Nai is Dad's mother. She holds very traditional views and is not shy about voicing them. During family dinners, she freely offers colorist remarks about skin tone and expresses outdated opinions regarding gender roles and professions.

Mrs. Yao is Jason's mother. She places immense pressure on her son to succeed in ways that align with high-status Western culture, actively pushing him to abandon his interest in Asian cuisine to become a French pastry chef instead.

Mr. Yao is Jason's father. He runs a chain of corporate restaurants, which influences his son's preference for big businesses. He tends to blame others for his son's outbursts and poor behavior.