Xiomara
Xiomara, the protagonist, is a sixteen-year-old girl. She is tall, buxom, and pretty; her greatest joy is writing poetry. Compounding the normal challenges of high school, Xiomara experiences a unique set of problems to navigate because she and her twin brother are the children of parents recently immigrated from the Dominican Republic. Faced with a culture and identity clash, Xiomara does well growing up in New York, but her mother less so. Xiomara is forced to reconcile her updated set of values with their mother's more traditional Catholic values, sometimes a humiliating and seemingly impossible task. Nevertheless Xiomara is a woman of integrity. She does not allow people to mistreat her without speaking up for herself nor is she willing to defer to others to keep her safe; she takes charge of her life and her body. Through the process of growing up, she finds an outlet in both her poetry and her friends at school, who support her and validate her feelings.
Aman
Aman is a boy in Xiomara's school who quickly befriends and endears himself to Xiomara. They start a surreptitious romance, kept hidden because Xiomara is not allowed to engage in any romantic relationship at this age, especially not without her parents' supervision and approval. Although Aman does not like the secrecy, he cares for Xiomara and is willing to accommodate her needs if it means supporting her. He proves a trustworthy supporter, though they do break up for a time. He was raised by a single father, his mother having remained in Trinidad; he loves winter sports; and he is a huge fan of hip-hop music.
Xavier
Xavier is Xiomara's twin brother; he is brilliant and goes to a special school. Through a comparison of the twins, one would likely expect to see many parallels, but there are few. He is smaller, weaker, and quieter than Xiomara, and his character serves to illustrate the pervasive sexism contained within their parents' value system. The twins' parents rarely interfere with Xavier's personal life and often even encourage him to pursue girls. Xiomara, on the other hand, is kept under nearly constant supervision and forbidden from engaging with any boys. Xavier is gay, which Xiomara discovers but doesn't tell their parents.
Mami
In the Dominican Republic Mami was a beautiful and devout young woman and she did not want to marry Papi, but this allowed her to come to America. She views her twin children, whom she had at an older age, as her greatest accomplishments, but that, coupled with religious conservatism and internalized patriarchal views, means that she is very hard on her daughter. She works extremely hard to support her family, which Xiomara admires, but her personality is difficult—unyielding, intolerant, strict, and judgmental. As the novel progresses she slowly opens up, but it is clearly difficult for her.
Papi
Papi was a larger-than-life man before he had children, loving dance and flirting with many women. Once the twins were born he reformed his behavior, but is a rather dispassionate father, leaving the parenting to Mami.
Caridad
Xiomara's best friend (and also one of Xavier's best friends). While a devout Catholic, she is supportive of Xiomara as her friend navigates boys, sex, and finding her own identity. She believes in Xiomara's poetic abilities and signs her up to read at an open mic night.
Ms. Galiano
Xiomara's supportive and kind English teacher. Ms. Galiano recognizes Xiomara's poetic skill her in written assignments and encourages her multiple times to join the poetry club. She prompts Xiomara to open her work up to an audience, and helps her prepare for a poetry contest. Beyond being a good teacher, Ms. Galiano supports Xiomara when she has a major falling-out with her mother.
Father Sean
The priest at the Catholic church Xiomara and her family attend. A one-time boxer, Father Sean clearly indicates that he wrestled with who he was in the past and who he wants to be now. He is dedicated to his parishioners, never pushing them to do anything they do not want to do (such as confirmation for Xiomara) but always reminding them God loves them and they need to work out the answers to their questions themselves. He helps Xiomara and her family work through their issues.
Isabelle
A high school girl Xiomara meets at poetry club. She is outspoken and forthright, which Xiomara admires, and is a supportive champion of her work. Isabelle's own voice is like that of a rapper—boisterous and bold.
Stephen
A member of the poetry club whom Xiomara admires for his vivid imagery.
Chris
A member of the poetry club who supports his friends but loves to offer critiques and suggestions; he is loud and a fast talker.
Cody
Twin's boyfriend, whom Xiomara calls "White Boy." He treats Twin very well, but has to break up with him when he learns his family is relocating for his father's job.
