Raphael is a fourteen-year-old boy who works as a trash sorter, a job he began at age three. He shares a cramped temporary shelter built from truck pallets with his aunt and extended family. Despite his grim surroundings and extreme poverty, he maintains a cheerful outlook until his discovery of a mysterious leather bag brings the ruthless local police to his door. He exhibits a quiet resilience when pushed by corrupt authorities.

Gardo is a bald, serious teenager who works as Raphael's sorting partner in the Behala dumpsite. He acts as the unofficial leader among his friends and approaches the world with heavy suspicion. Having endured physical hardships and beatings, he prepares for violence to protect the people he cares about and takes the lead in dealing with dangerous adults.

Jun-Jun is a young, emaciated boy living independently in a rat-infested hole within the Behala dumpsite. Originally from the island of Sampalo, he spent a year surviving alone in a train station before arriving in the trash camp. Because he lacks family support, he relies on extreme agility and street smarts to survive on his own, making him a crucial asset when the boys need to hide items from the police.

Father Juilliard is a sixty-three-year-old priest who operates the Mission School near the dumpsite. He tries to encourage the local children to attend classes by offering them food, though he understands they must prioritize working in the trash to survive. He serves as the compiler of the story, collecting accounts from various individuals to document the boys' struggle.

Olivia Weston is a twenty-two-year-old foreign social worker temporarily serving as a house mother at Behala's Mission School. Initially visiting the country as a tourist, she becomes captivated by the children and dedicates herself to charity work. Her idealism leads her into danger when the boys trick her into helping them infiltrate a corrupt prison system.

Senator Zapanta is the vice-president of the country and a figure of immense political power. He maintains a palatial home in Green Hills heavily guarded by armed security and dogs. He represents the systemic corruption plaguing the nation, having previously stolen international aid money intended for hospitals and schools.

José Angelico is a former senior houseboy for Senator Zapanta who grew up in an orphanage before his adoption. He initiates the central conflict of the story when he allegedly smuggles millions of dollars out of his employer's heavily guarded home inside an old refrigerator. His actions turn him into a powerful symbol of defiance for the dumpsite boys.

Gabriel Olondriz is an elderly, severely ill man serving a life sentence in the horrific conditions of Colva Prison. Thirty-five years prior, he attempted to expose Senator Zapanta's theft of international aid money but was imprisoned before his case went to trial. He holds the key to deciphering a complicated code left behind by his grandson.

Pia Dante is the young daughter of José Angelico. Following her father's sudden arrest and death, she disappears from her boarding house and waits for his return. Her unknown whereabouts become a source of concern for her father's former coworkers and friends.

Marco is a guard at Colva Prison who monitors the inmates in the heavily crowded cages. He recognizes the monetary value of Gabriel Olondriz's personal Bible and attempts to extort the boys for a large sum of money in exchange for the crucial item.

Ma is Raphael's aunt, who shares a cramped, makeshift home built from truck pallets with him at the Behala dumpsite. She watches out for his wellbeing and worries constantly about his safety. Her natural fear of the police inadvertently draws their suspicion toward her nephew during a public questioning session.

Grace is a maid working in the lavish Green Hills estate of Senator Zapanta. She provides an inside perspective on the household's operations and expresses genuine shock over the allegations surrounding her coworker's sudden crime. She worries deeply about the fate of her coworker's missing daughter.

Mr. Oliva is a soft-spoken social welfare officer working at Colva Prison. He manages visitation requests and extracts a large informal fee from a visiting social worker in exchange for expediting access to the heavily guarded inmates.

Frederico Gonz is a craftsman who creates grave markers and memorials for a local cemetery. He provides a crucial piece of the puzzle to Father Juilliard by recounting his experience carving specific, cryptic words into a stone memorial at the request of a grieving father.

Dante Jerome Olondriz is Gabriel's son, who dedicated his life to caring for vulnerable youth. Running a school through a government program, he eventually adopted over thirty children to ensure their safety, providing a loving home for orphans who had nothing.

Thomas is described as the main man at the dumpsite camp where Raphael lives. He acts as a local community figurehead who interacts with the police when they arrive at the camp offering a reward for the missing bag.