Unnamed Narrator
The novel's protagonist is the unnamed narrator who appears in all stories. The narrator is defensive, determined, and hardworking. The narrator's personality traits help him to maneuver the harsh situations he encounters throughout his life.
When the fire and flood sweep the narrator's village, he goes to live with his grandparents. The narrator admires his grandparents' marriage and hopes that his parents remain together instead of divorcing. Unfortunately, the narrator's grandparents die, forcing him to maneuver independently.
Margo
Margo is the narrator's girlfriend. The narrator and Margo first meet when stealing jewelry from a local shop and fall in love. The author portrays Margo as a troublesome and aggressive woman. The relationship between Margo and the narrator is rough. Instead of the narrator feeling better for having a girlfriend, he feels pain.
Dad
Dad is the narrator's father and Cate's former husband. Dad is a mistrustful survivalist because he tends to evade responsibility. The Y2K crisis scares Dad, and he divorces his wife, Cate. Dad goes to live alone on a farm and calls himself a shaman. Dad anticipates more crises but believes he can handle them without his family. In the end, Dad reunites with the narrator. Dad sheds tears and closes his eyes when he sees the worsening health of the narrator.
Cate
Cate is Dad's former wife and the narrator's mother. Cate is the daughter of the narrator's grandparents. When the Y2K crisis approaches, Cate worries about her husband's fear. Cate also suspects that her husband is becoming a bad person when he hits a pedestrian and runs away without taking responsibility. Cate divorces her husband and goes to live in the city, but she knows the narrator is very close to his father. Unfortunately, Cate dies a few years after relocating to the city.
Grandpa
Grandpa is the narrator's grandfather and Grandma's husband. Grandpa is a calm and focused man who prioritizes his family. Grandpa is also optimistic, believing everything will be well, even in the most unpredictable situations. After several years of living in the rural area with his wife, Grandpa relocates to the city, where he is forced to adopt liberalism ideas. When Grandma gets sick, Grandpa takes care of her until she dies.
Grandma
Grandma is the narrator's grandmother and Grandpa's wife. Grandma is also the mother of Cate and Dad's mother-in-law. Grandma spent her youthful days as a public school teacher who performed her duties passionately. Grandma and her husband spend most of their time in the countryside until their late days when they relocate to the city.
Jeph
Jeph is a unique 14-year-old survivor of his rural home's devoted natural remedial community. Jeph meets the narrator after losing his parents in close succession. Jeph is aggrieved, and he treats the narrator cruelly.
Shane
Shane is Margo's private lover. When Margo leaves the narrator, she goes to live with Shane. He is a government employee working in the Rescue department. Shane is an easy-going and quiet person. At first, Shane does not know that Margo is the narrator's lover. The narrator discovers the relationship between Margo and Shane and feels betrayed. Later, Margo returns to the narrator and begs for forgiveness.
Liz
Liz is the mother of Jenna. Liz comes from a privileged family and loves adventure and drinking. When the flood and fire sweep the village, Liz is one of the women the narrator meets. The narrator and Liz become intimate and sleep together. The narrator assures Liz of protection because he has superior weapons. However, When Liz realizes the narrator lied, he shoots him in the leg.
