Harrison “Harri” Opoku
Harri is the protagonist and narrator of Pigeon English. He is an eleven-year-old schoolboy newly arrived in London from his home in Ghana. Harri's family in London consists of his mother, who works in a hospital maternity ward, and his older sister, Lydia. Harri's father, a carpenter, and his baby sister, Agnes, remain in Ghana until they can save enough money to immigrate.
Harri loves science, birds, and running in the rain. He has many friends, a "special pigeon" who watches over him, and a girlfriend, Poppy Morgan. Harri lives surrounded by violence and discrimination, but he often overlooks danger. He and his friend Dean investigate the murder of a Year 11 boy and have several run-ins with the Dell Farm Crew. At the end of the text, Harri's former friend, Jordan, stabs and kills Harri.
The Dead Boy
A Year 11 boy, never identified by name, who was stabbed outside Chicken Joe’s, a fast-food chain.
Jermaine "Killa" Bent
Killa is a Year 11 student at Harri’s school and a member of the Dell Farm Crew. Killa dates Miquita, Lydia's friend, and burns her hand with a lighter. The text reveals that Killa likely murdered the dead boy as revenge for disrespecting the Dell Farm Crew at a school basketball game.
Miquita
Miquita is Lydia's friend from Dance Club and Killa's girlfriend. As investigations into the dead boy's murder heat up, Miquita becomes progressively more violent; she burns Lydia's face with a flattening iron, physically assaults Chanelle, and sexually molests Harri.
Dean
Dean is Harri's best friend in school. He is often picked on for his red hair; the Dell Farm Crew mugs him for his pocket money. Dean loves detective and crime shows and helps Harri investigate the dead boy's murder.
Jordan
Jordan is Harri's best friend outside of school. After he is expelled from school, Jordan steals for the Dell Farm Crew in exchange for cigarettes and protection, starting the young boy down a path of juvenile delinquency. Jordan frequently brags about his criminal behavior and pushes Harri to join him in breaking bottles and throwing stones at buses. Eventually, Jordan stabs Harri, killing him.
Lydia
Lydia is Harri's older sister in Year 9. A member of Dance Club, Lydia befriends Miquita and Chanelle and enjoys normal adolescent behaviors, like gossiping and watching television dramas. After the murder, Lydia is conscripted to destroy evidence and is threatened by Miquita. Despite her fear of the Dell Farm Crew's retribution, Lydia protects Harri as best she can, despite being a child herself.
Mamma
Mamma, whose real name is never given, is Harri and Lydia's mother. Mamma works in a hospital, delivering babies and terminating unviable pregnancies. Mamma is devoutly Christian. Despite her unusual work hours and homesickness, Mamma provides for her family and protects her children from violence and discrimination to the best of her ability.
Marcus "X-Fire" Johnson
X-Fire (pronounced "Cross Fire") is the ostensible leader of the Dell Farm Crew. X-Fire has a ferocious pit bull and recruits young children, like Harri and Jordan, into his crew by assigning them dangerous and illegal initiation "missions." X-Fire compels Lydia to destroy evidence and threatens Harri repeatedly.
Auntie Sonia
Auntie Sonia is Mamma's sister who resides as an undocumented citizen in London. Auntie Sonia works a series of odd jobs, such as housekeeping, and burns off her fingerprints to avoid deportation. Auntie Sonia suffers domestic abuse from her partner, Julius, a gangster who sells fake visas and collects debts. After Julius breaks Auntie Sonia's nose and foot, she escapes London.
Terry Takeaway
Terry Takeaway is an ex-army alcoholic and known thief who lives in Harri's neighborhood. Terry Takeaway owns an unusually friendly pit bull, Asbo, and protects Harri and Dean from the Dell Farm Crew.
Julius
Julius is Auntie Sonia's violent and abusive partner. He is known for his baseball bat, called "the Persuader," which he uses to beat people who are late repaying their debts. Julius sexually harrassed Auntie Sonia in front of her family and beats her.
Poppy Morgan
Poppy Morgan is Harri's first crush and girlfriend. She and Harri enjoy an innocent relationship where they hold hands, eat lunch together, and discuss shared interests, such as Michael Jackson. Poppy Morgan has blonde hair and wears glasses.
The Pigeon
Harri's "special pigeon" is a secondary narrator. The pigeon appears at opportune times to help Harri by rescuing him from the Dell Farm Crew. The pigeon takes on a role similar to a guardian angel, waxing philosophically on the nature of humanity and communicating directly with Harri.
