Paul is an insightful seventh-grader who moves to the gated community of Lake Windsor Downs. He has a severe visual impairment that requires him to wear thick prescription goggles, a condition his parents attribute to staring at a solar eclipse. Despite his poor eyesight, Paul is highly observant and notices the environmental and social realities of his new town that the adults around him ignore. He is a talented soccer goalie who is determined to play on a team despite administrative hurdles.

Erik is a high school student and a highly skilled placekicker. He is the center of the "Erik Fisher Football Dream," a pursuit that dominates the entire family's schedule and focus. Beneath his polished athletic exterior, Erik is cruel, arrogant, and relies on intimidation to maintain dominance over his peers and his younger brother. He specifically targets those he views as weaker or socially inferior.

Caroline Fisher is Paul and Erik's mother. She places immense value on social standing, quickly securing a position on the Lake Windsor Downs Architectural Committee. She prefers order, proper appearances, and controlled environments, which puts her at odds with the unpredictable weather and constant muck fires of Tangerine County. She attempts to advocate for Paul's education but frequently misunderstands what he actually needs.

Mr. Fisher is a civil engineer who soon becomes the Director of the Civil Engineering Department for Tangerine County. His personal life is entirely consumed by the "Erik Fisher Football Dream." He measures his own success by his older son's athletic achievements, meticulously tracking college scholarship offers while remaining entirely ignorant of his younger son's sports career and daily life.

Luis is the older brother of Tino and Theresa and the driving force behind the family's citrus groves. He injured his knee picking fruit as a child, leaving him with a permanent limp, but he remains deeply committed to his agricultural work. He develops a new, cold-resistant citrus hybrid called the Golden Dawn tangerine. He is calm, intensely proud of his heritage, and refuses to be intimidated by neighborhood bullies.

Joey is a middle school student who becomes Paul's first friend in Florida. He experiences a severe family tragedy early in the school year when his older brother dies. Joey attempts to transfer to Tangerine Middle to escape the painful memories at Lake Windsor but struggles to adapt. He is deeply uncomfortable around the diverse student body at Tangerine and ultimately lashes out with prejudiced remarks.

Tino is a passionate, aggressive soccer player for the Tangerine Middle War Eagles. He works hard in his family's citrus groves and holds a deep reverence for his older brother, Luis. Tino is initially hostile toward Paul and fiercely defensive of his family's working-class background, quick to anger when he feels disrespected by the wealthy residents of Lake Windsor.

Arthur is a high school football player who attaches himself to Erik Fisher. Recognizing Erik's talent and social power, Arthur serves as his driver and willing enforcer. He is eager to please and entirely lacks a moral compass, happily carrying out Erik's cruelest instructions in exchange for proximity to the star player.

Victor is the fiery captain and unquestioned leader of the Tangerine Middle War Eagles soccer team. He is loud, prone to aggressive trash talk, and treats soccer matches as actual warfare. He ruthlessly hazes new players to test their endurance, but once someone proves their loyalty, Victor protects them fiercely.

Antoine is a highly talented football player who provides the essential passes and plays that make Erik Fisher look good on the field. Antoine dislikes Erik's arrogance and occasionally takes action to humiliate him during games. He carries the heavy burden of a secret regarding his official residence, knowing the truth could impact the entire football program.

Theresa is Tino's twin sister and works as an office aide at Tangerine Middle School. She is diligent, serious, and deeply involved in her family's agricultural business. She provides Paul with essential guidance on how to navigate the social dynamics of her school and family.

Mike is Joey's older brother and a decent, hardworking high school football player. Unlike Erik, Mike is grounded and good-natured, not consumed by arrogance. His sudden death from a lightning strike during an afternoon practice throws the community into chaos and deeply traumatizes his younger brother.

Mr. Costello is Joey and Mike's father and a prominent figure in the gated community. He is heavily involved in local politics and property management. He handles the sudden tragedy of his older son's death by pushing forward with community events and encouraging his surviving son to stay busy.

Coach Bright is the dedicated coach of the Tangerine Middle soccer team. She is a former Olympic hurdler whose athletic career ended following a controversial incident at an international track meet. She instills fierce pride in her players and refuses to let them react to the racist taunts hurled by wealthier suburban schools.

Shandra is Antoine's sister and a highly skilled female soccer player on the co-ed Tangerine team. Despite her remarkable talent, she sprint away from reporters and actively avoids any media coverage. She is forced to maintain a low profile to protect her family's residency secrets.

Gino is the captain of the Lake Windsor Middle School soccer team. He respects Paul's skills in the goal and openly praises him during the sinkhole disaster. He represents the fair-minded athletic competition that Paul seeks, contrasting with the hostility of the high school football program.

Kerri is a student at Lake Windsor Middle School. Though she is initially assigned to help Paul because of his visual impairment, she quickly realizes he can see perfectly fine and stops treating him like a handicap. She maintains a quiet interest in Paul even after he transfers to a different school.

Mr. Donnelly is a local journalist who lives in Lake Windsor Downs. His house is famous for having been struck by lightning three times, prompting him to install numerous lightning rods. He hosts a gathering for college football recruiters and uses his newspaper column to comment on local sports history and community scandals.

Henry D. is a student at Tangerine Middle School. He initially worries about working with the combative Tino Cruz but eventually participates in the project. He helps explain the local agricultural customs to Paul, particularly how student farmers are excused from school during deep freezes to save the crops.