- Chiko (Chee-Koh): a 15-year old Burmese doctor's son
- Lei (Lay): Chiko's next-door neighbor and secret crush
- Tai (Tie): a savvy street boy
- Sawati (Sah-wah-tee): Tai's sister
- Bindu (Bin-dew): a good-natured but not-so-smart Burmese soldier
- U Tha Din (Oo-thah-deen): the Sergeant in charge of the army training camp
- Tu Reh (Too-ray): a 16-year old Karenni boy forced to flee his home for a Thai refugee camp
- Peh (Pay): What Tu Reh calls his father
- Mua (Moo-a): what Tu Reh calls his mother
- Bu Reh (Boo-ray): a refugee camp leader
- Sa Reh (Sah-ray): Tu Reh's friend in the camp and Bu Reh's son
- Nya Meh (Neeya-may): a girl with the gift of healing
- Ree Meh (Ree-may): the healer's younger sister and Tu Reh's dream girl
- Ana Meh (Anna-may): Tu Reh's little sister
Pronunciation Guide and Glossary
Characters
