Jaime is a twelve-year-old artist living in a small Guatemalan village. Following the violent death of his cousin, he is forced to flee his home to avoid being recruited by the local gang. He carries his sketchbook everywhere, using his pencils to process his fears and document the difficult journey north. He feels a deep responsibility to his family and his surviving cousin.

Ángela is a fifteen-year-old girl from rural Guatemala who must flee her home after the Alphas target her. As a young woman, she faces specific threats from the gang members who demand she become their companion. She travels north with her younger cousin, relying on her quick thinking and a hidden sewing kit for survival.

Miguel is Jaime's twelve-year-old cousin and best friend. He lives in a small Guatemalan village controlled by the Alphas. When approached by the gang, he refuses to join them, leading to a brutal retaliation that sparks the entire journey north.

Tomás is Jaime's older brother who previously emigrated from Guatemala. He currently lives and works on a ranch in New Mexico. His established life in the United States provides a specific destination for the migrating cousins.

Abuela is the matriarch of the extended family in Guatemala. She expresses her deep love for her children and grandchildren through traditional cooking. She prepares a significant feast for the children before their departure and packs provisions to sustain them on the road.

Xavi is a seventeen-year-old migrant from El Salvador traveling north to escape his home country. He possesses nothing but a broken cell phone and a stolen private school polo shirt. He carries immense guilt over past inactions and actively attempts to protect the younger children he meets on the road.

Rafa is a seventeen-year-old boy fleeing an abusive home life in Honduras. He frequently masks his fear and trauma with a cocky, careless attitude. He makes reckless decisions and takes significant risks while traveling the dangerous migrant routes.

Joaquín is an eleven-year-old unaccompanied minor from Honduras. Traveling alone on the perilous route north, Joaquín keeps a low profile and shares very little personal history. The young traveler remains fiercely independent despite the constant dangers of the road.

Pulguita is a local boy from the cousins' Guatemalan village who recently joined the Alphas. He flaunts his new wealth, including expensive clothes and a phone, to taunt those who live in poverty. He acts as a recruiter and representative for the dangerous gang.

Padre Kevin operates a refugee shelter inside an abandoned church in Mexico. He presents an unconventional appearance for a priest, often wearing Bermuda shorts and smoking cigarettes. He provides temporary safety for migrants while maintaining a complicated alliance with local smugglers.

El Gordo operates a smuggling ring and profits heavily from the desperation of people trying to move north. He charges exorbitant fees to secure passage on freight trains. He actively enjoys intimidating the vulnerable migrants who rely on his services.

Vida is a severely injured dog discovered near the migrant shelter. Likely used as bait in illegal dogfights, she requires immediate medical attention from the children. Her name translates to "life" in Spanish, representing hope for the travelers.

Señora Pérez is a woman living in a desolate area in Mexico. She stays home alone with her twin babies. She encounters the exhausted cousins and offers them critical assistance in exchange for household labor.

Conejo is a local guide known as a coyote in the border town of Ciudad Juárez. He offers services to help migrants cross the river into the United States. He charges a significant fee for his expertise in evading border patrols.

Lalo is a boy traveling atop the freight trains heading north. He initially appears friendly to the other migrants but ultimately looks out only for his own survival, taking advantage of the vulnerability of those around him.

Victor travels the dangerous train routes alongside Lalo. He acts as an opportunistic predator among the migrants, waiting for travelers to become exhausted and distracted before stealing their remaining supplies.