Laurie is the editor-in-chief of The Grapevine, the student newspaper at Gordon High School. She is a popular student who values free expression and individual identity. As the history class experiment grows, she becomes uncomfortable with the militaristic conformity spreading through the student body. She uses her position at the newspaper to question the new authority structure.

Ben is a history teacher who has worked at Gordon High for two years. He uses unconventional teaching methods to engage his students. He struggles to explain the historical complicity of the German public during the Holocaust to his class. To demonstrate how authoritarianism spreads, he designs a classroom experiment centered on discipline and community.

David is the running back for the Gordon High football team and a student in Ben Ross's history class. He wants to study computer engineering and views the past pragmatically. He views the new classroom discipline as a practical tool to unify his disorganized football team.

Robert is a chronically bullied high school student who lives in the shadow of his highly successful older brother. He shows apathy toward his failing grades and sleeps through class. When introduced to a highly structured classroom environment, he finds a sense of belonging and quickly adopts the strict new behavioral codes.

Christy is a music teacher at Gordon High who has been on the faculty for two years. She is familiar with her husband's tendency to become intensely absorbed in his hobbies and projects. As his classroom experiment expands, she provides an external perspective on the shifting dynamics within the school.

Amy is a Gordon High student who struggles with feeling competitive toward her best friend. She dates the football team's quarterback. She actively embraces the school's new movement and finds relief in an environment that enforces equality and eliminates social competition.

Brian is the quarterback for the Gordon High football team. He worries about the team's lack of coordination against upcoming opponents. He adopts the new school movement in hopes of improving the team's chances on the field.

Mrs. Saunders is an intelligent, politically active woman who holds a leadership role in the League of Women Voters. She possesses a sharp analytical mind. She immediately recognizes the potential dangers of militaristic conformity when her daughter describes the new classroom rules.

Mr. Saunders is an easygoing father who spends much of his free time playing golf. He generally defers to his wife's sharp intellect during household discussions. He initially views the school's focus on cooperation as a positive development.

Principal Owens is the head administrator at Gordon High School. He maintains a cautious watch over the student body. He requires regular updates when unconventional teaching methods begin disrupting the standard school environment.

Carl is an investigative reporter for The Grapevine. He often procrastinates on submitting his articles. He eventually commits to helping his editor investigate the concerning events spreading through Gordon High.

Alex writes music reviews for the Gordon High student newspaper. He joins the effort to publish a special edition of the paper that addresses the sudden changes in student behavior.

Brad is a student who quickly adapts to the strict new rules in his history class. He takes on an authoritarian demeanor. He attempts to police the behavior of other students at school events.

Deutsch is a junior and the second-string quarterback for the Gordon High football team. He refuses to participate in the new school movement. He pushes back against pressure from his teammates.

Coach Schiller manages the Gordon High football squad. He is desperate for a way to organize his players. He soon realizes that blind enthusiasm does not translate into athletic coordination.

Eric is a Gordon High student who actively promotes the new school movement. He distributes literature and shouts slogans in the corridors.

Jeff is Robert's older brother and a former standout student at Gordon High School. He excelled both athletically and academically during his time at the school. He currently plays minor league baseball for the Orioles farm system.

Mrs. Billings is Robert and Jeff's mother. She frequently worries about her younger son's inability to function socially or academically. She views the sudden changes in his behavior as a positive development.