Zoey is a seventh-grade student who lives in a Vermont trailer park and acts as the primary caregiver for her younger siblings. Because of her heavy responsibilities at home and lack of resources, she struggles to participate in school and feels acutely alienated from her middle-class peers. To cope with her chaotic environment, she relies heavily on her imagination, frequently envisioning herself as an octopus to mentally camouflage herself from judgment.

Kara is Zoey's mother, a hardworking woman who serves food full-time at the local Pizza Pit. She moved her family into Lenny's trailer to secure a clean, organized, and stable environment for her children. Exhausted by her work and home responsibilities, she frequently apologizes to Lenny and absorbs the blame for minor household accidents.

Lenny is Kara's boyfriend and the owner of the meticulously kept trailer where the family resides. He works as a nursing home orderly and maintains strict control over the household's cleanliness, finances, and schedule. He never raises his voice but uses quiet, logical-sounding arguments to assert dominance and make Kara feel incompetent.

Fuchsia is Zoey's best friend, a fellow seventh grader who uses heavy makeup, painted clothes, and bright pink accessories to project a tough exterior. Having spent time in the foster care system, she currently lives with her mother but constantly fears the instability of her housing situation. Her only source of pure comfort is her beloved kitten.

Ms. Rochambeau is the middle school social studies teacher and the advisor for the debate club. She recognizes Zoey's intelligence and actively forces her to participate in academics rather than allowing her to fade into the background. Having grown up in poverty herself, she wants to equip her disadvantaged students with the skills needed to succeed.

Bryce is Zoey's four-year-old half-brother. He attends a local Head Start program and often struggles with his emotions, requiring Zoey to ground him using a specific routine with a rock. Living in Lenny's tense household causes him significant anxiety, which manifests in frequent nightmares and behavioral issues.

Aurora is Zoey's three-year-old half-sister. She attends the same Head Start program as Bryce and is highly dependent on Zoey. She is small, clingy, and prone to darting into dangerous situations when separated from her older sister.

Hector is the infant son of Kara and Lenny. As a baby, he requires constant attention, and his care often falls to Zoey when both parents are working or occupied.

Frank is Lenny's father, an older man who lives in the trailer with the rest of the family. He rarely moves from his recliner, spending his days watching sports or politically extreme news channels while smoking cigarettes.

Silas is a quiet student who lives in the same trailer park as Zoey. While he is energetic and talkative about hunting when they are in their neighborhood, he purposefully shuts down at school to avoid drawing the attention of wealthy, judgmental classmates. He wears a camo trucker hat that marks him as an outsider.

Matt is a popular, well-dressed classmate of Zoey's who intends to run for class president. He represents the financial and social stability that Zoey lacks, capable of affording weekly restaurant meals and participating actively in extracurriculars. In debate club, he argues confidently but lacks perspective on the struggles of lower-income families.

Crystal is Fuchsia's mother. Having previously lost custody of Fuchsia due to substance abuse issues, she now struggles to pay the rent for their apartment. Her financial desperation pushes her toward moving in with her boyfriend, Michael, despite Fuchsia's serious reservations.

Michael is Crystal's boyfriend. He owns the residence where Crystal plans to relocate her and Fuchsia when they can no longer afford their rent. Fuchsia correctly identifies him as a deeply unsafe and violent individual.

Connor works at the Pizza Pit alongside Kara. He is an empathetic and dependable presence for the Albro family. A soul-searching trip to Peru inspired his chakana tattoo, which teaches Zoey an important lesson about inner wholeness.

Lydia is a popular middle school student who participates in the debate club. She quickly judges others based on their clothing and background, holding rigid political views that she considers intellectually superior to those of rural, lower-income students.

Kaylee is an aggressive, outspoken student in Zoey's social studies class. She uses harsh questioning and bullying tactics to dominate classroom discussions, enjoying the power she wields over quieter students.

Holly is a quiet, nice student in Ms. Rochambeau's class. She attempts to participate in the animal debate but quickly folds under aggressive questioning from her peers.