Philip is an eight-year-old Jewish boy raised in Newark, New Jersey. He is a sensitive child who loves collecting stamps and looks up to his older brother. As the political climate in America changes under a new administration, Philip struggles to comprehend the growing tensions within his family. He frequently escapes into his imagination and develops irrational fears to cope with his anxieties.

Sandy is Philip's older brother. He is a talented young artist who practices drawing out of an Arbor Day sketchbook. As he enters his teenage years, Sandy joins the "Just Folks" apprenticeship program. He spends a summer working on a Kentucky tobacco farm. His experiences outside Newark shift his worldview and cause ideological friction with his parents.

Herman is the patriarch of the Roth family and an insurance salesman. He takes great pride in his country's foundational values and firmly believes in equality. As anti-Semitic rhetoric gains traction in national politics, Herman stubbornly refuses to be intimidated. He arms himself with political knowledge and argues fiercely with anyone who supports the new administration.

Bess is Philip and Sandy's mother, a pragmatic and protective woman. While her husband Herman reacts to political shifts with vocal outrage, Bess focuses on practical preparations. She takes a job selling dresses at Hahne's department store to save emergency funds in a Montreal bank account. She attempts to maintain peace within her home when external pressures threaten her family.

Alvin is Philip and Sandy's orphaned cousin who comes to live with the Roths as a child. As a young man, he is idealistic, politically outspoken, and intolerant of corporate greed. Driven by strong anti-fascist convictions and spurred by Herman's political discussions, Alvin leaves his driving job. He travels to Canada and enlists in the military to fight in Europe.

Evelyn is Bess's sister and an ambitious woman who aligns herself with the new political establishment. She takes a job working as an assistant for Rabbi Bengelsdorf and fully supports the administration's integration programs. Her shifting loyalties create a severe ideological wedge between her and the rest of the Roth family.

Charles Lindbergh is a celebrated aviator who leverages his massive popularity to run for the presidency. Campaigning on an isolationist platform, he promises to keep America out of the European war. His administration subtly begins implementing policies that increasingly isolate and disenfranchise American Jews.

Walter Winchell is a famous, widely heard Jewish radio commentator and syndicated newspaper columnist. He serves as a prominent voice of opposition to the rising fascist sentiment in America. For families like the Roths, his broadcasts provide a vital source of comfort and representation during increasingly uncertain times.

Rabbi Bengelsdorf is a respected leader of a local temple in Newark and an author of inspirational poetry. Seeking to prove that American Jews can fully assimilate, he becomes a highly visible political surrogate. He publicly defends the president against accusations of anti-Semitism and encourages Jewish youth to participate in government assimilation programs.

Uncle Monty is a wealthy produce market owner and relative of the Roth family. Unlike Herman, Monty measures political success strictly by economic prosperity. He cares little for ideological debates. He is a harsh, demanding businessman who shows little patience for those he views as lacking ambition.

Seldon is the quiet, fatherless boy who lives in the apartment downstairs from Philip. He deeply admires Philip and follows him around the neighborhood. He happily wears Philip's hand-me-down clothes. Seldon's presence often irritates Philip, who acts out against the younger boy's desperate need for friendship.

Earl is Philip's largely unsupervised neighborhood friend. The two boys spend their free time following strangers and stealing small items. Earl's restless behavior influences Philip to test boundaries as a distraction from his anxieties at home.

Taylor is an independent driver and tour guide who escorts the Roth family around Washington, DC. He is knowledgeable about American history. He is sympathetic to the family when they experience discrimination at their hotel, stepping in to help them find alternative lodgings.

Mr. Mawhinney is a successful Christian tobacco farmer who hosts Sandy through the 'Just Folks' program. He introduces Sandy to agricultural life and regional customs. He leaves a strong impression on the young boy from Newark and shapes his emerging political views.

Don is a sharply dressed federal agent working for J. Edgar Hoover. He conducts intrusive neighborhood interviews regarding the Roth family's political leanings and Alvin's military service. He brings the reality of government surveillance directly to Philip's doorstep.

Mr. Cucuzza is an Italian-American neighbor who moves into the building after the Wishnow family relocates. He is a pragmatic, protective man who recognizes the growing dangers in the city. He advises Herman on self-defense and provides him with a weapon for protection.

Shepsie is a friendly projectionist who works at the local Newsreel Theater. He allows the Roth family to watch weekly news broadcasts in his theater. As the political climate worsens, he quietly makes plans to relocate his family to Canada.