Hương is a fiercely protective mother of two who immigrates to New Orleans as a refugee. Speaking little English and carrying deep trauma from the war, she refuses to rely on the Catholic church or ideologies that remind her of the forces she fled. She handles the challenges of a foreign city by taking on low-wage jobs, determined to secure a future for her family at any personal cost.

Tuấn is Hương’s eldest son who vividly remembers his early childhood in Southeast Asia. He struggles to balance his fierce pride in his cultural heritage with the pressure to assimilate into American society. This tension makes him a target for bullies at school and drives him to seek belonging in rebellious youth groups.

Born in a refugee camp and arriving in New Orleans as a baby, Bình has no memories of his father or his family's homeland. He anglicizes his name to Ben to better fit in with his American peers. Highly intelligent but feeling alienated from his family's deep cultural connections, he searches for his own community and realistic father figures to emulate.

Vinh is a former soldier who immigrated to the United States and works as a car salesman. He adopts a more relaxed attitude toward life than many of his peers and attempts to integrate smoothly into American society. He builds a relationship with Hương and makes persistent efforts to become a supportive figure for her sons.

Công is a former university professor of literature who remains in Vietnam after his family escapes. His absence casts a massive shadow over his wife and sons as they attempt to build a new life. He becomes a nearly mythical standard against which his family members measure their actions and identities.

Addy is a Haitian immigrant living in New Orleans who experiences an American upbringing alongside Bình. Raised Catholic, she shares a sense of marginalization with her best friend, making them a source of mutual support during their formative school years.

Bà Giang is an elderly immigrant residing in the Versailles apartment complex. She runs an unofficial daycare out of her home for the neighborhood children. She acts as a stabilizing presence and source of practical advice for new arrivals adjusting to their circumstances.

Đinh-Fredric is a mixed-race boy of Black and Vietnamese descent living in the Versailles community. He faces intense isolation from his peers due to prejudice regarding his parentage. He maintains a fierce connection to Vietnam and harbors a deep desire to locate his father.

Trúc is a young girl attending Bà Giang's daycare. She actively bullies the other children, targeting Tuấn for his cultural pride and picking on Đinh-Fredric for his mixed heritage.

Kim-Anh is a young, childless refugee who works with Hương. Sponsored by an American church, she embraces the social opportunities of her new life with a youthful energy that contrasts sharply with Hương's strict, family-focused priorities.

Frank is a white American man who arranged for his church to sponsor Kim-Anh's relocation to New Orleans. He views himself as her protector and benefactor, though he often grows frustrated with her independent behavior and desire to socialize.

Donald is a white classmate of Tuấn who frequently targets him with racial slurs and bullying. He exploits Tuấn's struggles with the English language to get him into trouble with their teachers.

Father Hiệu is a Catholic priest working to establish a church for the local immigrant community. He represents an accessible, active male role model for the neighborhood youth, though his religious affiliation makes certain community members deeply suspicious of his influence.

Thảo is a rebellious girl associated with the Southern Boyz gang. She retains a strong sense of cultural pride and refuses to anglicize her name, traits that strongly appeal to Tuấn as he searches for his own identity.

Quang is the leader of the Southern Boyz, a gang of adolescents in New Orleans. He demands intense loyalty from his followers and assigns dangerous initiation tasks to prove their commitment to the group.

Howie is a recent high school graduate who befriends Ben at the public swimming pool. He offers Ben a glimpse into a life outside his immediate family circle and helps him explore parts of his identity he keeps hidden at home.

Lars Schreiber is a German-speaking immigrant and university literature professor. Recognizing Ben's intellectual capabilities, he provides him with access to books and academic opportunities, becoming a complex mentor figure.

Elaine Schreiber is a university art history professor who employs Ben to assist with her work. She relies on him for practical tasks like taking photographs and organizing academic resources.

Michel is a young French Communist who squats in a condemned apartment building with friends. He offers Ben a drastically different perspective on life and politics far away from the pressures of New Orleans.

Mr. Minh is an immigrant who, along with his wife, volunteers to host Hương's family. As a habitual drinker with a loud lifestyle, his presence quickly overwhelms his traumatized guests, driving a wedge between the two families.

Lan is a university professor specializing in folk poetry who lives in a large, comfortable home in Vietnam. She maintains a quiet, academic life that stands in distinct contrast to the grueling experiences of those who fled the country.