Charlie is a teenage girl who was born deaf. Both of her parents are hearing, and Charlie has a cochlear implant. However her implant is faulty, and she has never learned ASL. Because of this, Charlie has no true way to communicate with others. That is, until she transfers to The River Valley School for the Deaf where she is around other deaf people and learns ASL.

Charlie's perspective of her own deafness is heavily influenced by her mother. Charlie's mother is the one who pushed for the implant which Charlie holds resentment for. In the story, Charlie feels as though her mother is ashamed of her being deaf. This effects Charlie as even she sometimes views her deafness as a limitation. 

As the story progresses however, Charlie begins to be proud of her deafness and realize that just because she is different, it doesn't mean that she has to be defined by this difference. She finds pride in her ability to now better express herself and be understood. 

February is the headmistress of River Valley School for the Deaf. February is hearing, but her parents were deaf making her a CODA, or child of deaf adults. Because of this, February has straddled the hearing and deaf world her entire life. 

February is a big advocate for the deaf community because she has seen first-hand some of the struggles that they face. She also helps her students, like Charlie, who are transitioning into a deaf-centered school because she truly wants these children's needs to be met. 

She views deafness as something to be protected. She tries to protect deaf culture, history, and community through her school. February believes that deafness should be something that is embraced, not shied away from. She continually fights for her students and the deaf community throughout the story.

Austin is a student at River Valley School for the Deaf. He is fifth generation deaf on his mother's side. His father is hearing but is completely fluent in ASL and works as an interpreter. His family is very well known in the deaf community, and they are extremely proud of their deafness. 

Because of Austin's family situation, he has never viewed himself as different. He views his deafness as something to be proud of, not ashamed of. His connection experience with being deaf and the deaf community is practically a complete opposite of Charlie's. Austin communicates in almost entirely ASL.

He feels completely comfortable with his deafness and at home in the deaf community. He helps Charlie find her place in this new world that she has found herself in by simply continuing to be himself.