Sylvia

A young girl, and the protagonist and narrator of the story. Sylvia does not like the activities Miss Moore arranges for the kids. She is practical and rebellious, and she claims not understand the purpose of Miss Moore's lessons despite a growing sense of anger and unease as those lessons begin to sink in.

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Miss Moore

A college-educated woman who moves to Sylvia's neighborhood and begins to take an interest in teaching Sylvia and the other neighborhood children about different subjects, namely about income inequality.

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Sugar

Sylvia's cousin who lives in the same neighborhood. Although they are best friends, Sugar begins to understand Miss Moore’s lessons in a way Sylvia refuses to acknowledge, and a rift occurs in their relationship.

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Aunt Gretchen

Sylvia’s aunt who watches the children in the family and takes in boarders. According to Sylvia, Gretchen is a pushover, which is why she has to watch Sylvia and all her cousins.

Fat Butt/Big Butt/Ronald

A boy on the trip who wants a microscope. Sylvia mocks him regularly.

Flyboy

A small boy on the trip who claims to be homeless, though Sylvia says this is inaccurate, and believes he only wants sympathy. He is the first child to point out the toy sailboat in the window. 

Junebug

A young girl on the trip.

Little Q.T.

A boy on the trip who is very small and becomes mesmerized by the toy sailboat.

Rosie Giraffe

A girl on the trip who is the first to point out the expensive paperweight.

Mercedes

A girl on the trip who is intelligent and neat. Unlike the other children, she has a proper desk at home. She is more interested in Miss Moore's lessons than the other children. Her confident behavior often causes her to become the target of bullying.