Initially a spirited ten-year-old girl living a privileged life in Kabul as the daughter of the president's advisor. Following the violent 1978 military coup, she adopts the identity of her deceased older sister, Aryana, and eventually becomes a dedicated oncologist in New York City. Her profound survivor's guilt shapes her adult life, making her deeply compassionate toward patients but emotionally guarded in personal interactions.

An American embassy worker stationed in Kabul. She is highly practical and deeply compassionate, dedicating her life to humanitarian causes while operating within dangerous diplomatic environments. Antonia steps up to provide refuge for a frightened orphan and becomes her steadfast guardian in the United States.

A strict and disciplined palace guard known to the children as Sham. As a participant in the military coup, he faces a moral crisis when he discovers a child hiding in the palace. He prioritizes the safety of his own family but refuses to harm an innocent, choosing instead to smuggle her out of the compound.

An aging American actor visiting her daughter in Afghanistan. Tilly possesses a whimsical flair but demonstrates fierce determination when smuggling a child out of the country. She acts as a comforting maternal presence during a perilous drive to Pakistan.

A seasoned war journalist who writes about the conflicts in Afghanistan. He exhibits a strong ethical core and an open-minded approach to the people he meets. His deep understanding of Afghan history provides a rare sense of shared understanding when he crosses paths with a traumatized doctor.

A chief advisor to Afghan President Daoud Khan and a devoted father. He is an intelligent man who studied engineering in Oklahoma before returning to serve his country. He passes down a deep appreciation for Afghan history and literature to his family.

A three-year-old boy living in the presidential palace. He is a beloved and innocent presence in the Zamani family's comfortable life before the military coup shatters their world.

The granddaughter of Afghan President Daoud Khan. She enjoys playing games that re-enact Afghan history and shares a highly privileged, carefree childhood within the palace walls.

The President of Afghanistan. He serves as an authoritative figure attempting to balance foreign influences in his country. His leadership and palace become the central targets of a violent military coup.

A practical and highly fearful woman caught in the political upheaval of Kabul. She treats the physical wounds of an unexpected fugitive but remains deeply anxious about the danger of harboring an outsider under the new regime.

The eldest son of a palace guard. He eventually moves to the United States with his family as his father takes extreme measures to protect him from the ongoing wars in Afghanistan.

An outwardly pious evangelical Christian woman who takes in foster children. Behind her public displays of faith, she runs a highly restrictive and abusive household where she strictly limits the children's food and personal freedom.

A neatly dressed man who receives constant praise at his church. Behind closed doors, he is an abusive figure who preys on the vulnerability of the young girls placed in his home and inflicts humiliating punishments on the boys.

A malnourished young girl living in an abusive foster home. She attempts to quietly endure the harsh conditions while showing small kindnesses to the newer children who arrive in the household.

A young foster child living in a highly restrictive Christian home. He is fearful of making mistakes and endures cruel, humiliating punishments from his foster father.

An ambitious New York City resident who plans to run for office in the New York Assembly. He grows frustrated by the emotional distance his girlfriend maintains and eventually views her diverse background as a convenient asset for his political campaign.

A doctor and close confidant. As the child of Nigerian immigrants who fled a civil war, he intuitively understands the complex feelings of displacement and the xenophobia faced by marginalized individuals in America.

A traveler moving through Asia in a van. He views the region primarily as a tourist destination but agrees to transport a woman and child toward the border, unknowingly acting as a smuggler.

An American traveler from Ohio moving along the tourist trail through Asia. She inadvertently provides cover for a smuggling operation during a tense drive toward Pakistan.

A grandson of President Daoud. He carries his own immense grief from the violent revolution and eventually crosses paths with an old acquaintance during her adult return to Afghanistan.

The young curator of the Kabul Museum. He represents the recovering generation of Afghanistan and is entrusted with protecting and cataloging the country's ancient artifacts.

A female doctor operating a maternity hospital in Kabul. Her medical work serves a recovering nation and provides inspiration to visiting medical professionals.