Valencia is an eleven-year-old student in the resource room with Virgil due to her special needs. She is deaf, which isolates her from other students and forces her to be resourceful in communication. Valencia forms a friendship with Kaori and aids Virgil in the story.

Kaori is a confident twelve-year-old Japanese American with a flair for the mystical. She runs a psychic service for kids, offering advice to Virgil that unwittingly sets him on a life-changing journey. Kaori teams up with Valencia, expanding her circle of influence.

Chet is the school bully who targets Virgil and Valencia due to their differences. Influenced by his father’s harsh ideals, he acts tough while harboring fears of his own, impacting his interactions with others.

Lola is Virgil’s Filipino grandmother, uniquely attuned to his needs in contrast to their loud family. She values dreams and embraces Valencia’s way of perceiving the world.

Gen is Kaori's younger sister, who assists in Kaori's psychic business. Her insight and actions contribute significantly to the resolution of the story's challenges.

Mr. Bullens is Chet’s father, whose competitive and dismissive demeanor shapes Chet’s behavior and beliefs, influencing his treatment of others at school.