Fadi is an independent, 11-year-old middle school student who loves photography and reading adventure books. He harbors intense guilt after losing his younger sister's hand during their frantic escape from Afghanistan. In San Francisco, he adjusts to his new environment and school while constantly seeking ways to find his sister.

Mariam is Fadi's six-year-old sister who was born in Wisconsin and holds American citizenship. She is talkative, willful, and deeply attached to her Barbie doll, Gulmina. During the chaotic boarding of a truck headed for Pakistan, she is left behind in Afghanistan.

Habib is Fadi's father, a Pukhtun man who holds a Ph.D. in agriculture from a university in Wisconsin. He originally returned to Afghanistan with idealistic hopes of helping farmers transition away from the opium trade. Upon emigrating to San Francisco, he takes a job as a taxi driver to support his family.

Noor is Fadi's teenage older sister who initially presents a pouty, aloof demeanor. After the family settles in the United States, she takes an after-school job working at McDonald's to contribute to the household income. She carries her own feelings of responsibility regarding her younger siblings.

Zafoona is Fadi's mother, whose physical health is quite fragile during the family's escape and subsequent relocation. She suffers from a severe chest infection that confines her to bed in the United States. She blames her illness for her inability to look after her youngest daughter during the border crossing.

Anh is an outgoing student at Brookhaven Middle School who runs for class president. She quickly befriends Fadi, bringing him into her group for art class and encouraging his participation in school activities. She is strategic and supportive, drawing on her own family's refugee history from Vietnam.

Ms. Bethune is the art teacher at Brookhaven Middle School who sponsors the photography club. She provides a creative outlet for her students and announces the regional photography competition. She acts as an educational guide for Fadi as he adjusts to his new school.

Uncle Amin lives in Little Kabul in Fremont, California. He and his wife take the Nurzai family into their home upon their arrival in the United States, offering them their first refuge and traditional Afghan hospitality.

Khala Nilufer is Zafoona's youngest sister. She lives in Fremont, California, where she prepares traditional Afghan meals and provides a welcoming, stable environment for her displaced relatives.

Zalmay is Fadi's ten-year-old cousin who lives in Fremont. He enjoys playing video games and tries to cheer up Fadi during the family's initial, difficult weeks in the United States.

Ike is a bully at Brookhaven Middle School. Following the September 11 attacks, he aggressively targets Fadi and other minority students, using racial slurs and physical intimidation to assert dominance in the school environment.

Felix is a Filipino student at Brookhaven Middle School who partners with Ike to bully other classmates. He participates in the harassment and physical intimidation of Fadi and other minority students.

Clive Murray is a professional photographer who specializes in capturing diverse cultures in conflict zones. He serves as a judge for the Société Géographique's regional photography contest and offers professional advice to young photographers.

Mr. Singh is an ice cream vendor in the Nurzais' neighborhood. He is a Sikh man who wears a turban and becomes a victim of misdirected racial violence following the September 11 attacks.

Jon is a student at Brookhaven Middle School who joins the same art class group as Fadi and Anh. He discusses his favorite movies with his classmates and works on group assignments.