August
The narrator and protagonist, originally from Tennessee. August moves to Brooklyn with her father and brother after her mother becomes unwell. She grapples with her mother's absence, building strong friendships with Sylvia, Gigi, and Angela while navigating adolescence, loss, and eventual independence. As an adult, she becomes an anthropologist studying death and culture.
Sylvia
The natural leader of the friend group, Sylvia moves from Martinique to Brooklyn. Intelligent and assertive, she draws August into her circle of trust. Strict parental expectations shape her, creating tension between loyalty to friends and family pressures. Her teenage choices, including a relationship with Jerome, strain her bond with August.
Gigi
Beautiful and ambitious, Gigi dreams of a career in acting. Her experiences with trauma and social challenges reveal her vulnerability. Gigi's attempt to preserve friendships and assert herself tragically ends in her suicide, a pivotal moment that marks the fragility of adolescent bonds.
Angela
A Brooklyn native, Angela is graceful and talented, especially in dance. She struggles with her mother's drug addiction and eventual death, which leads to her temporary disappearance into foster care. Angela ultimately achieves her dream of becoming a professional dancer, symbolizing resilience and escape.
August's Father
A Vietnam War veteran, devoted yet distant, he moves the family to Brooklyn and later joins the Nation of Islam under Sister Loretta's influence. He provides practical guidance but struggles to emotionally support August in processing her mother's death.
August's Brother
Younger than August, he gravitates toward certainty, embracing religion and structure. His pragmatic outlook contrasts with August's lingering hope for their mother's return, highlighting differing ways of coping with loss.
August's Mother
Absent due to suicide, she profoundly shapes August’s memory and longing. Her death and mental instability drive much of August's emotional journey.
Sister Loretta
August's father's partner and a devout member of the Nation of Islam, she guides August's brother and introduces the family to Islamic traditions, though August remains distant from the faith.
Clyde
August's uncle and mother's brother, whose death in Vietnam triggers her mother's mental decline.
Sister Sonja
A therapist affiliated with the Nation of Islam, she attempts to help August process grief and accept her mother's death.
Sylvia's Father
An intellectual from Martinique, he emphasizes education and cultural heritage, imposing strict standards on Sylvia and her friends.
Sylvia's Mother and Sister
Strict and judgmental, they scrutinize August, Angela, and Gigi, representing social and familial expectations.
Gigi's Mother
Supportive of her daughter's acting ambitions but shapes her through both guidance and pressure.
Angela's Mother
A former dancer turned drug addict, her absence and instability influence Angela's experiences and resilience.
Jerome
August's first boyfriend, whose relationship with Sylvia causes tension and fractures among the friend group.
Jennie
A neighbor and prostitute whose troubled life intersects briefly with August's, illustrating the harsh realities of their Brooklyn environment.
Charlsetta
A classmate whose early pregnancy and life choices highlight the challenges young women face in their community.
