The only daughter in her Chinese-Canadian family, Jook-Liang is a spirited and highly imaginative young girl. Feeling isolated and frequently criticized by her grandmother for being female, she finds comfort in her fantasy life, practicing tap-dance routines and wishing she looked like Shirley Temple. Her longing for acceptance leads her to form a profound friendship with a disfigured elderly bachelor, whom she views as a magical prince from her grandmother's stories.

The adopted middle son of the family, Jung-Sum is a pre-teen trying to establish his place in his household and the broader community. Rescued from an abusive biological father at a young age, he seeks to build his physical strength by taking up boxing at the Hastings Gym. As he matures, he struggles with his blooming sexuality and a secret attraction to a neighborhood tough guy, knowing these desires conflict with traditional expectations of masculinity.

The youngest child of the family, Sek-Lung suffers from persistent lung issues that keep him home from school until the third grade. Because of his frail constitution, he receives constant doting from his grandmother and becomes her absolute favorite. He spends his days learning how to construct windchimes from discarded items and listening to tales of Chinese spirits, creating a remarkably close bond that deeply influences his worldview.

The matriarch of the family, respectfully known as the Old One. Born with physical defects that caused her father to abandon her, she survived a harsh early life as a servant before eventually moving to Canada. She commands the household with strict traditionalism, using various dialects to convey her approval or disdain. She keeps a treasured jade peony pendant and shares old superstitions, herbal remedies, and stories with her grandchildren.

The patriarchal head of the household, Father works diligently writing editorials and performing brush-writing for the local Chinese Times. He balances an unwavering political loyalty to China with a practical desire for his children to integrate into Canadian society. He views Western education as essential for his family's survival, often growing exasperated with his mother's reliance on ancient superstitions.

The biological mother of Jook-Liang and Sek-Lung. She arrived in Canada as a young woman after being purchased and groomed by Father's family in China. Despite her formal title—dictated by Poh-Poh's adherence to old customs to maintain family hierarchy—she quietly and gracefully manages the household. She endures her subtly degraded status with stoic reserve while demonstrating quiet compassion for her neighbors and children.

The eldest son of the family, Kiam is an intelligent and pragmatic teenager who excels in his studies. Deeply interested in science and modern progress, he frequently dismisses traditional superstitions and magic as mere fiction. He serves as a responsible role model for his younger siblings and hopes to eventually join the military to fight for Canada.

An elderly bachelor and former railroad worker who visits the family for meals. Physically battered by years of brutal labor, poverty, and isolation in Gold Mountain, he walks with a hunch and has a severely disfigured face. Despite his intimidating appearance, he possesses a deeply compassionate soul and instantly connects with the children.

Known as the resident Chinatown tough guy, Frank is a rebellious young man in his early twenties. Having grown up in difficult circumstances with an abusive father, he projects an intimidating, hyper-masculine exterior and earns his own money working at lumber mills. He shadowboxes at the local gym and carries a razor-sharp knife.

A prematurely aged laborer in the community, Old Yuen is hardened by years of grueling camp work. Prone to drinking, gambling, and violent outbursts, he lives in a local rooming house and relies on his estranged son for financial support after his wife passes away.

A widow living across the street in a purportedly haunted house. Having lost her husband to a mill accident, she is a loud, superstitious woman who adheres closely to peasant customs. She frequently yells at her adopted daughter and occasionally serves as a strict babysitter for the neighborhood children.

Mrs. Lim's beautiful adopted daughter. Abandoned by her birth mother, she endures constant berating and a low social status within her own home. Despite her harsh treatment, she remains gentle, taking on the responsibility of walking Sek-Lung home from school while maintaining a dangerous secret.

A young Japanese-Canadian boy who plays baseball in Little Tokyo. Amidst the rising tensions and deep-seated prejudices of the escalating war, his interactions with Chinese-Canadians carry significant social risks, causing friction with his own family and community.

A bachelor-man and family friend who works in a hot, cramped steamship kitchen. Speaking in a thick dialect, he occasionally brings unique items to the family's home for safekeeping, such as a large snapping turtle.

A kind and generous bachelor who operates the American Steam Cleaners shop. He welcomes neighborhood children into his business, treating them to sweets and offering his meticulous tailoring skills to mend their treasured garments.

Stepmother's childhood friend back in China. Having converted to Christianity and become a missionary, she faces persecution and the threat of advancing armies. She represents a vital connection to the family's past across the ocean.

A Black boxing coach at the local gym who trains the neighborhood youth. He serves as a steady, encouraging mentor, teaching discipline and fighting skills while keeping a protective eye on his young trainees.

The Advanced Grade Three teacher tasked with instructing immigrant children. She runs her classroom with strict discipline, using daily drills to mold her students into brave, capable citizens while harboring private worries over the war.

A relative and community elder who frequently visits the family. He is deeply invested in traditional Chinese customs and firmly believes in the necessity of paying proper respects to spirits, often clashing with the family's more modern inclinations.

A schoolmate of Sek-Lung who leads a group of boys in incessant war games. He mimics the violence of the global conflict during play, eagerly participating in the anti-Japanese sentiment spreading through the neighborhood.

A teenage girl in the Chinatown community who dates Kiam. She advocates for complete assimilation, encouraging her friends to adopt English names so they blend in with Canadian society.

A student of mixed heritage in Mrs. Doyle's Advanced Grade Three class. She faces stigmatization and ostracism for being poor, though she occasionally receives quiet kindness from her strict teacher.

The son of the family's neighbors who leaves school to enlist in the military. When he visits home in uniform, he commands the admiration of the neighborhood boys.