Cristian Florescu
Cristian Florescu is a seventeen-year-old high school student living in Bucharest, Romania, in 1989. He dreams of becoming a writer and enjoys studying English, recording his thoughts and beliefs in a secret notebook, and attempts to express his individuality in small ways, like styling his hair. His life changes when he is recruited by the Securiate, the Romanian secret police, to inform on an American acquaintance, Dan Van Dorn. Cristian longs to live a mundane life and enjoy typical teen experiences, like dating Liliana Pavel and studying for his exams. However, Cristian's life is complicated by the vocal political criticisms voiced by his grandfather, Bunu, who is Cristian's role model. Throughout the Romanian revolution, Cristian demonstrates bravery, resilience, and a strong commitment to principles.
Liliana Pavel
Liliana Pavel is Cristian's neighbor and crush. She is quiet, thoughtful, and mysterious, her eyes hidden behind her long hair. She dreams of being a librarian because she loves books and learning English. Liliana breaks the strict rules to experience her life fully, whether by sneaking illegal snacks or listening to banned American music, particularly Bruce Springsteen. The constant question of whether or not Cristian is informing on her strains their relationship. During the revolution, Liliana stoically endures torture and thinks quickly to save her life and Cristian's.
Bunu
Bunu is Cristian's grandfather. Having grown up before the rise of Soviet communism, Bunu does not tolerate surveillance or restrictions. He endangers his family by joking about tyranny, breaking frivolous rules like the layout of the family apartment, and encouraging Cristian to explore different philosophies and ideas. Bunu's health declines and his family suspects leukemia. However, it is revealed that the Secu is actually poisoning Bunu through irradiated coffee. Ultimately, Bunu is beaten to death as an example of the consequences of entertaining revolutionary ideas. Still, his memory and spirit encourage Cristian to embrace freedom and resistance.
Agent Paddle Hands
Cristian reports to Agent Paddle Hands, nicknamed for his overly large hands, a middle-aged Secu agent. From their meetings, Cristian deduces that Paddle Hands is unmarried, a soccer fan, and likely an orphan tortured into accepting the regime's ideas. Paddle Hands plays along with Cristian's attempts at deception, but in his reports, it is clear he sees through Cristian's act. Cici also reports to Paddle Hands, and Paddle Hands uses his position of power to exploit her sexually. Paddle Hands survives the revolution, is never charged with any crimes, and remains in Bucharest. At the end of the novel, Cristian goes to confront Paddle Hands for answers.
Luca Oprea
Luca Oprea is Cristian's best friend. He is tall, non-confrontational, and dreams of becoming a medical doctor. Luca comes from a large family, as his mother had several children to earn an award from the government. Cristian suspects Luca informed on him and briefly ends their friendship, though Luca misinterprets their distance as a romantic feud over Liliana. Even after Cristian punches Luca and accuses him of being an informer, Luca tries to rekindle their friendship during the revolution and even takes two bullets, saving Cristian's life, which results in him losing his arm. Eventually, Luca and his family move to England.
Dan Van Dorn
Dan Van Dorn is the son of the American ambassador to Romania. Dan and Cristian become genuine friends, though Cristian informs on Dan. Mindful that even his home is bugged, Dan treats Cristian to trips to the American library and American snacks, calling Cristian his "pal." Through Dan, Cristian learns that the other Soviet nations have abandoned communism and that Americans do not understand the conditions in Bucharest. Dan leaves for the United States before the revolution, planning to apply to Princeton University using an essay about his time in Romania.
Mr. Van Dorn
Mr. Van Dorn is the American ambassador to Romania and Dan's father. Mr. Van Dorn is kind though cautious, attempting to subtly help Cristian by providing him with news about the outside world. Mr. Van Dorn is highly affectionate with his wife and protective of his family and stays behind in Romania to help during the revolution. Mr. Van Dorn receives Cristian's notebook and passes it on to the press so Western countries can understand the reality of Romania's dictatorship.
Starfish
Starfish is a young contraband smuggler in Cristian's neighborhood, nicknamed for the starfish-shaped scars around his missing eye. Though helpful and anti-tyranny, Starfish exploits the conditions in Bucharest for money by hosting movie nights and selling illegal products and information. Ultimately, Starfish saves Cristian during the revolution by giving him Kent cigarettes to barter as well as critical information about conditions in the city.
Cici Florescu
Cici Florescu is Cristian's older sister. She is beautiful, intelligent, and witty, gaining her many admirers. Cici works at a textile factory and also illegally as a seamstress, collecting contraband items in a locked box. She is highly protective of Cristian and uses her position as an informer to provide for her family and keep her brother safe. Through the declassified documents, Cristian learns that his sister informed on him but also worked as a double agent for the Americans, saving lives and eventually being murdered for it.
Moira Florescu
Moira Florescu is Cristian and Cici's mother. She works as a cleaner for the Van Dorns and discourages Cristian from entertaining revolutionary ideas. She lives in constant fear for her family's safety, and Cristian later learns that she informed on the family in exchange for her the promise of her children's safety. Ultimately, her actions result in Bunu and Cici's deaths.
Mr. Florescu
Mr. Florescu is Cristian's father and Bunu's son. He works incredibly long hours and rarely sees his children. Though he believes in freedom and hopes for the dissolution of the Romanian dictatorship, he rarely speaks, in order to protect himself and his family. Only after Bunu's death and the revolution does he begin to open up to Cristian. At the end of the novel, Cristian speculates that his father knew about Moira's role as an informer.
