Sila is a twelve-year-old Turkish-American sixth grader living in Eugene, Oregon. She withdraws from her friends and former interests when her mother returns to Turkey due to a paperwork issue. Blaming herself for her family's separation, she struggles quietly with her grief. Her world opens up again when she connects with a lottery-winning retired carpenter and an autistic classmate.

Alp is a Kurdish immigrant from Turkey who works as an automotive mechanic in Oregon. Previously a mechanical engineer and political activist in his home country, he now focuses on providing for his daughter. The forced separation from his wife makes him increasingly anxious and overprotective of Sila.

Gio is a nearly seventy-year-old retired carpenter who recently won a massive lottery jackpot with his former coworkers. He uses the winnings to buy a two-thousand-acre farm surrounded by a stone wall, fulfilling a dream held by his late wife. Despite his wealth, he feels lonely and purposeless until he meets Sila.

Mateo is an autistic sixth grader who lives on the same street as Sila. He possesses an intense intellect and conducts thorough research on topics that interest him, such as gravity and animals. After years of being misunderstood by teachers and peers, he has stopped speaking at school to avoid causing disruptions.

Veda is a twenty-two-year-old Asian elephant who spent her life performing in a traveling circus. Separated from her mother at a young age, she endured harsh training methods involving bullhooks and electric prods. She finds a peaceful sanctuary on Gio's farm.

Oya is a Turkish immigrant who worked as a housekeeper at a hotel for fourteen years. She faces retaliation and loses her job after questioning pay disparities between male and female employees. Shortly after, a bureaucratic issue forces her to return to Turkey, separating her from her husband and daughter.

Rosa is a labor attorney and Mateo's mother. She works diligently to protect her son from misunderstanding while encouraging him to engage with the world. Her professional expertise becomes a vital resource for the Tekin family when she learns about Oya's situation.

Lillian is Gio's late wife and a former second-grade teacher at Sila's school. She passed away from lung cancer before Gio won the lottery. She maintained detailed binders of her students' work and left a lasting positive impression on the children she taught.

Chester is the head of the disbanding Briot Family Circus. He operates as a con man who cuts corners on animal care, lacking proper permits and veterinary check-ups for his performers. He eagerly sells his animals to rid himself of the responsibility.

Mr. Pickles is a brown bear previously exploited by the Briot Family Circus. He suffers from physical ailments due to being declawed and defanged at a young age. Labeled as grumpy by his former captors, he relies heavily on his sense of smell to navigate the world.

Mrs. Holsing is a school administrator who notices Sila's withdrawal from social activities. She attempts to intervene by placing Sila in a pilot pairing program called "Connections." She struggles to fully understand the root causes of her students' isolation.

Mahdi is a female Asian elephant and Veda's mother. She was separated from her calf decades ago when Veda was sold to the Briot Family Circus. She currently resides in an animal sanctuary.

Waffles is a large dog belonging to the Lopez family. He provides Mateo with unconditional affection and a safe outlet for communication.

Rodrigo is an animal caretaker for the Briot Family Circus. He facilitates the transfer of the animals to their new owner and attempts to pass along the harsh tools used to control them.