Dèja is a ten-year-old fifth grader starting at Brooklyn Collective Elementary. She lives with her parents and two younger siblings in a single room at a homeless shelter. The heavy responsibility of caring for her siblings makes her defensive and pessimistic about her situation. She enters her new school guarding her family's housing status, expecting rejection from her peers.

Pop is Dèja's father, who suffers from a mysterious, chronic illness marked by nightmares, severe headaches, and breathing problems. His condition leaves him bedridden on bad days and unable to hold a job. He is deeply protective of Dèja but easily agitated, particularly regarding what she learns at school. He keeps a locked suitcase containing items from his past employment.

Ben is a new fifth grader at Brooklyn Collective who recently relocated from Arizona to New York with his mother. He wears cowboy boots and possesses a calm, steady demeanor. Going through his parents' divorce, he understands family stress, allowing him to connect with Dèja without judging her circumstances.

Sabeen is a fifth grader in Miss Garcia's class. She lives in a large, multi-generational Turkish-American Muslim household. Described initially by Dèja as a teacher's pet, she is remarkably generous and eager to make the new students feel welcome. Her family strictly observes certain dates by staying home, reflecting their own challenges in New York.

Miss Garcia is a fifth-grade teacher at Brooklyn Collective Elementary. She wears high heels and bright red lipstick. Tasked with introducing a new living history curriculum, she shows visible anxiety about the subject matter. She observes Dèja's academic potential and refuses to let her skip assignments.

Ma is Dèja's mother, a Jamaican immigrant who works as a waitress to support her family. As the sole earner, she bears the heavy burden of keeping the family afloat while living in the Avalon shelter. She tries to manage Pop's illness while ensuring her children get to school and daycare.

Ray is Dèja's younger brother. He spends his days at the Avalon daycare center while his mother works and his sister attends school. He enjoys cutting out paper figures and relies on Dèja for daily guidance.

Leda is Dèja's baby sister. She is the youngest member of the Barnes family, requiring constant supervision from her mother and older sister.

Mr. Schmidt is the history teacher at Brooklyn Collective Elementary. He guides the students through the timeline of American history, drawing connections between past conflicts and modern events.

Dora is Ben's mother. Following a divorce, she moved her son from Arizona to an apartment in New York City. She is stressed by her separation but remains a caring mother who watches over Dèja's siblings during study sessions.

Mr. Demir is Sabeen's father. He presides over a large, multi-generational household and speaks multiple languages. He views his family as his heart and ensures any guest in his home is fed and comfortable.

Uncle Ahmet is Sabeen's uncle, a member of her extended Turkish-American family. He frequently experiences extra security screenings at airports, a reality that shapes the family's cautious behavior.

Principal Thompson is the administrator at Brooklyn Collective Elementary. He is responsible for instituting the school's new curriculum that connects students to recent history.

Luis is one of Pop's former coworkers. He worked on a security team at Pop's previous job, wearing the same uniform and greeting daily visitors.

Big Kelly is a former colleague of Pop's from his old security job. He stood alongside Pop and Luis at the front desk of their building.

Mrs. Able is an older woman who worked in the same building as Pop. During a past emergency evacuation, Pop assisted her down the stairs.

Keisha is a girl from Dèja's previous school. They were best friends until Dèja's family lost their home, at which point Keisha stopped speaking to her, leaving Dèja wary of new friendships.