Paul is a sarcastic and emotionally perceptive boy living with a strict, emotionally reserved father. When his mother undergoes surgery, Paul is abruptly sent to Colorado to stay with an estranged grandfather he has never met. He dreads spending a week with a complete stranger but maintains a curious attitude toward his family's unspoken history.

Michael is Paul's father and Road's estranged son. He is a formal, rigid man who wears ties and keeps his hair meticulously combed. He maintains emotional distance from his son and refuses to explain why he no longer speaks to his own father.

Road, whose real name is Joad, is Paul's grandfather and a Vietnam veteran. He lives in an old-fashioned house filled with books and traditional dream catchers. He is a gruff man who experiences bad nightmares and initially treats his grandson as a frustrating stand-in for his estranged son.

Billy is an 11-year-old boy living with his single mother in a mobile home. He deeply admires his absent father, a former stock car racer, and hopes to gain his attention by entering a local Memorial Day bike race. He treasures a secondhand red bicycle he receives for his 12th birthday.

Charlie is a quiet, introspective teenager who secretly dreads physical violence. He admires but fears his intimidating ex-boxer father. When invited to a church dance known for gang activity, Charlie seeks his father's advice, creating internal conflict over what true bravery looks like.

Charlie's father is a lawyer and former boxer who serves as the confident head of the household. He holds rigid, traditional expectations regarding courage, firmly believing that a person must never avoid risks and must always fight back physically.

Marco is a bright boy navigating the transition toward independence. He respects his grandfather but grows irritated by the older man's overbearing tendencies. He discovers a natural talent for playing the recorder after his grandfather insists they take lessons together.

Gramps is Marco's intelligent but arrogant grandfather who insists on walking the boy home daily. Desiring to maintain a teaching role in Marco's life, he dismisses drums as "real music" and signs them both up for recorder lessons, only to struggle with the instrument himself.

Damon is a perceptive but deeply hurt boy struggling with his parents' separation. He idealizes his father's house as a symbol of stability and decides he wants to move in with him full-time, seeking a connection he desperately misses.

Damon's father is an emotionally distant man who sees his son only one weekend a month. He maintains his own separate world, casually making major life changes without informing his son.

Luke is a boy who shares a profound connection with his father, centered around trips to a lakeside log cabin. When his life is upended by a sudden tragedy, he struggles with deep grief, experiences fleeting visions, and searches for a way to honor his father's memory.

Luke's father is an outdoorsy man who deeply loved his lakeside log cabin. His sudden death in a car accident shatters the family, leaving a lingering presence in Luke's mind.

Ryan is a witty, emotionally mature boy who lost his father to cancer three years prior. When his mother announces she wants to marry her new boyfriend, Ryan handles the situation practically, demanding the man formally "apply" for the job of being his dad.

Ian is Halley's new fiancé. He willingly participates in Ryan's demanding interview process, supplying references from his best friend and nephew to prove his character and fitness for fatherhood.

Billy's mother is a hardworking single parent saving money to buy a permanent house. She understands her son's lingering hope for his father's return and buys him a secondhand red bike to support his racing dreams.

An older, faster teenager who enters the Memorial Day bicycle race. He denies any wrongdoing when Billy confronts him about the red bike.

A local law enforcement officer who sees Billy on a daily basis. He pities the boy's persistent but fruitless visits to the station.

Charlie's mother is a caring presence in the household. Unlike her husband, she responds to Charlie's difficult situations with immediate concern for his physical well-being rather than shame.

Arlo is a knowledgeable friend of Charlie's who warns him that the local church dances often attract dangerous gang activity.

Alice is a girl whom Charlie likes. Her invitation prompts Charlie to face his fears about going out in the neighborhood.

Nicky is a younger friend of Marco's. Because Nicky walks home from school alone, he highlights the lack of independence Marco currently experiences.

Mrs. Pelescue is a polite, patient music teacher who encourages her students. She believes that playing music together is a fundamental, shared human experience.

Damon's mother is a patient and loving parent who provides a stable home. She absorbs Damon's harsh words without arguing, understanding his emotional turmoil regarding his father's absence.

Ami is the new wife of Damon's father. She is completely unaware of Damon's existence until he walks into the house, leading to an incredibly awkward introduction.

Luke's mother is a practical woman who tries to hold her family together in the aftermath of a sudden tragedy. She manages the difficult logistics and asks Luke to make a decision regarding his father's ashes.

Uncle Carl is a supportive family member who helps manage the immediate grief and silently drives Luke out to the lake when asked.

Halley is Ryan's widowed mother who has recently found love again. She deeply respects her son's feelings and unusual coping mechanisms, agreeing to let Ryan formally interview her fiancé.