In Order of Appearance:
Jay Reynolds: Jay is a 50+ year old ex-Army Special Forces soldier, widower and grandfather. He was struck by lightning and killed.
Jacob (Jake) Turner: Main Character. A 15 year old boy who has fallen into a brain-dead coma from glue sniffing. Jay's mind and psyche or transferred into Jake, causing a "miraculous" recovery.
Cindy Sorenson: The first person Jake saw upon waking up from his coma. She is a Catholic schoolgirl who volunteers as a candy striper at the hospital.
Sara Douglas: The first medically trained person Jake meets upon waking up. Divorced with one son, she is Jake's " beautiful angel of mercy".
Helen Turner: Jake's mother.
Dr. Malone: Jake's neurosurgeon.
Charles Turner: Jake's father
Debbie Turner: Jake's oldest sister (17)
Angie Turner: Jake's older sister (16)
Dr. Pryne: Psychiatrist called by Dr. Malone who wants to do research on Jake.
Raeford (Rafe) Robertson: Delivery driver for Turner Furniture who is teamed with Jake when he goes to work for his father.
Christopher Douglas II: Sara's two year old son.
Richie Collins: Loser who started Jake's downfall before the glue sniffing incident.
Stuart Miller: A boy Angie dated.
Russell (Chip) Thornton II: Debbie's boyfriend, a stuck up rich kid.
Father Donovan: Priest at the Turner's Church.
Jack and Theresa Sorenson: Cindy's Parents. He is the president of Palmdale Savings and Loan Association.
Jody Marks: Carhop at "Steak & Shake", sophomore at Stetson University.
Doctor Christopher Douglas: Sara's ex-husband, a neurosurgeon from a wealthy New England family.
Elizabeth Moran: Sara's aunt Liz, owns Amore Supper Club.
Sid Moran: Sara's uncle, and brother of Liz.
Brad Simmons: Debbie's boyfriend after Chip, quarterback of the high school football team.
Elliott Buckley: Helen's father, killed in the Korean War.
Janet Robinson: Rafe's wife, she is an accountant.
Gail Martin: Charles Turner's secretary.
Brian Nelson: Ex-marine football coach at Jake's high school.
Victoria Greer: High school English teacher.
Ray Robinson: Rafe's son and Jake's teammate on the football team.
Rebecca Doane: School librarian.
Carl McClelland: High school chemistry teacher.
Scott Hughes: Jake's nerdy chemistry partner.
Bill Greer: The superintendent of schools, married to Victoria Greer.
Melissa Thornton: Chip's sister.
Erika Johansson: Nordic goddess transfer student from Minnesota.
Erik Johansson: Erika's twin brother who joins the football team.
Laurie: Friend of Cindy's at the Catholic school.
Leonard Skinner: Principal of John F. Kennedy high school.
Sven & Helga Johansson: Erika and Erik's parents.
Nan Cox: JV cheerleader and Scott Hughes' girlfriend.
Russell & Vivian Thornton: Chip and Melissa's father and stepmother. Russell is brutally murdered.
Katherine Cooper: Rebecca Doane's older divorced sister.
The Welch Brothers (Wayne and Blaine): The worst of the school's bad asses.
Ralph Ryland and Charles Owens: Hired by the Welch Brothers to teach Jake some manners.
Ms. Chan: The school nurse.
Bob Martin: Gail Martin's father.
Naomi: Ray Robinson's girlfriend.
Tiny: Gun store proprietor and weapons instructor.
Beth Owens: Charles Owens' sister who was in Jake's geometry class.
Randall Thornton: Russell Thornton's brother from Connecticut.
Maria Thornton: Randall Thornton's wife.
Tyler and Marisa Thornton: Children of Randall and Maria Thornton.
Denise Smith: A teacher who transfers to JFK high school, much to the delight of Carl McClelland.
Heidi: Erika Johansson's 14-year-old cousin. Mentioned but never introduced.
Diane Phillips: High school guidance counselor.
Faith and Hope Phillips: Twin daughters of Diane Phillips.
Jim Peters: Private investigator hired by Maria Thornton. His wife Gloria is also a PI.
Chad Simmons: Brad Simmons' younger brother, quarterback of the JV team.
Bobby Adams: Candidate for student council president.
Mrs. Ferrell: High school geometry teacher.
Susan Jean Jones: The love machine. Jay Reynolds' girl friend from 1971.
Audrey: Susan Jean Jones' mother.
Kelly Jones: Married Susan Jean Jones when she was 16.
Ronnie VanZant: Student musician at Lee High School. Forms band called Leynyrd Skinyrd.
Rachel (Benson) Reynolds: Jay Reynolds' wife of over 20 years who died from cancer.
Ron Phillips: Diane Phillips ex-husband and father of Faith and Hope.
Barry Miller: Maria Thornton's boyfriend and 10th District Court's State Attorney.
Salvatore Morano: Sid and Elizabeth Moran's father.
Gino Morano: Older half-brother of Sid and Elizabeth.
Karen Jessup: The new high school guidance counselor.
Darren and Carol Hughes: Scott Hughes' parents.
Martina (Marty) Sterling: Jake's investment counselor.
Tina: Marty's friend and roommate.
Smiley Warrick: NASCAR engine builder who rebuild the engine in Sara's Chevelle.
Darla Sykes: Longtime employee who reported the disappearance of Vivian Thornton.
Vincent "Vinnie the Weasel" Scarpizio: Randall Thornton's silent partner, and business agent for the International Stevedore and Longshoremen Association.
Mitzi Walters: Randall Thornton's secretary and mistress.
Sam Parker: Melissa's favorite building supervisor with Thornton Development.
Lester Miller and Donald Farenti: Members of the Tampa longshoremen's union and lower level soldiers working for Vinnie Scarpizio.
Regina Mallory: Coed at Rollins College who lapses into a coma from alcohol and barbiturates.
Nina Murphy: 43 year old woman killed in a car wreck in 2003. Her mind occupies Regina Mallory's body the same way Jay Reynolds' occupied Jake Turner.
LaMonte' Dupree: Book editor for vanity Publishing Group. Rebecca Doane's editor.
Andrew Wiggins: United States Congressman, his district includes Palmdale.