Dara is a twelve-year-old Cambodian girl who recently escaped the brutal work camps of the Khmer Rouge. Having lost her father and grandmother, she longs for the stability and warmth of a traditional family. Though initially quiet and somewhat insecure, she possesses a keen observational sense and a growing determination to protect those she loves.

Jantu is a thirteen-year-old orphan who cares for her infant brother, Nebut. She has an extraordinary talent for handcrafting intricate toys out of sticks, straw, clay, and string, which she uses to process trauma and visualize a better future. Wise beyond her years, she guides others to find their own confidence, frequently using storytelling to mock the foolishness of war.

Sarun is Dara's eighteen-year-old brother who assumes leadership of the family after escaping a labor detail. Initially focused on gathering enough resources to replant their farm in Siem Reap, his priorities begin to shift when he encounters the Khmer Serei resistance army. He represents the seductive pull of military culture for desperate young men in war-torn regions.

Chnay is a tough-talking orphan who lost his entire family to the Cambodian Genocide. He roams the camps terrorizing other children and breaking their creations, masking his deep loneliness and desire to belong. Despite his aggressive exterior, he reveals a surprising capacity for loyalty.

Nea is an eighteen-year-old girl from Siem Reap who survived the Khmer Rouge alongside her grandfather and two cousins. She is warm and hospitable, immediately sharing her family's food allotment with Dara's newly arrived family. She dreams of returning home to farm and build a peaceful life away from the constant warfare.

Dara's mother is a quiet, resilient survivor of the work camps who relies heavily on her son Sarun to lead the family. Having lost her husband to the regime, she focuses entirely on keeping her remaining two children alive and finding enough food to sustain them.

Nebut is Jantu's infant brother and the youngest survivor of their immediate family. He requires constant attention and care, serving as a focal point for Jantu's protective instincts in the chaotic refugee camps.

Grandfather Kem is the elderly patriarch of Nea and Jantu's family. He represents a connection to Cambodia's past and works alongside the younger generations to secure food and supplies for their eventual return to Siem Reap.

General Kung Silor commands a base camp of the anti-communist Khmer Serei army. He wears a huge tiger's tooth around his neck and aggressively recruits young male refugees to fight against the Vietnamese army. He commands respect through fear and authority, viewing the civilian refugees as resources for his military campaign.

Duoic is a teenage boy who lost both of his legs after stepping on a landmine in the jungle. Separated from his family, he struggles with despair until Jantu encourages him to focus on small acts of self-reliance.