The Family
- Portrayed by: Kristen Bell
Grace "Gracie" Thompson (later Weatherly) is the main protagonist of the film. She is the oldest of five siblings, trying to gain custody from her mother.
- Determinator: Not wind, nor snow, nor abusive mothers will stop Gracie from saving her siblings.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: She's the hard-working Responsible Sibling to Rose's carefree Foolish Sibling.
- Promotion to Parent: This is her ultimate goal; to become the legal guardian of her siblings. She succeeds.
- Portrayed by: Anne Heche
Rowena Larson is the main antagonist of the film. She's a drug addict with five children whom she doesn't look after.
- Abusive Offspring: Is financially and emotionally abusive to her mother Louella, and assaults her when she tries to protect Gracie.
- Abusive Parents: Neglectful, regularly endangers them, a gaslighter, and chokes Gracie.
- Junkie Parent: And often puts drugs before her kids.
- Would Harm a Senior: Assaults her mother at one point.
- Portrayed by: Diane Ladd
Louella Larson is the secondary protagonist of the film. Rowena's mother and the kids' grandmother, who is struggling to keep everything together.
- Alliterative Name: Louella Larson.
- All-Loving Hero: She still loves Rowena in spite of everything she did to her.
- Scatterbrained Senior: A dark variant: In her final moments, she can't think straight and believes Gracie is Rowena when she comes to see her.
- Too Good for This Sinful Earth: About two thirds through the movie, she passes away, leaving Gracie without a support system.
- Portrayed by: Kristin Fairlie
Rose Carlton is a deuteragonist in the film. She's the second oldest of the kids.
- Express Delivery: After leaving early in the pregnancy, she shows up at Louella's funeral just about ready to pop, and again at Gracie's graduation postpartum, in what is implied to be just a few months.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: She's the carefree Foolish Sibling to Gracie's hardworking Responsible Sibling.
- Teen Pregnancy: At 16, she becomes pregnant and leaves the family for good.
- Portrayed by: Brian Akins
Ryan Walker (later Weatherly) is a supporting character in the film. He's the middle child of the family.
- Accidental Misnaming: A social worker mistakenly calls him "Bryan".
- Meaningful Name: He's the one who suggests the kids call themselves the Weatherlys, since they've been through "bad weather", a.k.a hardships.
- Portrayed by: David Gibson McLean
Jonathan "Jonny" Blicker (later Weatherly) is a supporting character in the film. He's the second youngest of the kids.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Is rarely called Jonathan.
- Portrayed by: Jack Armstrong
Robbie Locascio (later Weatherly) is a supporting character in the film. He's the youngest of the kids.
- Children Are Innocent: Doesn't quite understand the situation he's in, and thus, believes everything Rowena tells him.
- Innocent Swearing: In one scene, he tells Gracie that kids at school called him the r-word and asked what it meant.
Other Characters
- Portrayed by: Shedrack Anderson III
Tommy is a deuteragonist in the film. He is Gracie's love interest.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: Near the end of the film, he suddenly flips out on Gracie after finding out she's adopting her siblings, and breaks up with her.
- Portrayed by: Sandra Caldwell
Mrs. Thurston is a supporting character in the film. She is Gracie's guidance counselor.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: She's stern and a bit harsh, but ultimately wants what's best for Gracie, and is right there congratulating her with every accomplishment.
