Wes Moore (Author)- The narrator of the story. Wes grew up in West Baltimore and lost his father at a young age. He grew up in a low-income family and struggled in the early years of his life to stay on a positive path. Wes attended Valley Forge Military School for high school and junior college. He later attended Johns Hopkins University. Along with being a decorated veteran, Wes became a Rhode Scholar with the help of his mentors.
Joy Moore- Joy is Wes's mother. She encouraged Wes to stay on a positive path and worked hard to support her family after her husband died. She sent Wes to military school, which made a drastic change in his life for the better. She is retired from working at a foundation with disadvantaged children. Today Joy is running her own consultancy.
Nikki- She is Wes's older sister. Today she runs her own event-planning business in Virginia.
Shani- She is Wes's younger sister. Today she lives in Los Angeles with her husband and graduated from Princeton and Stanford Law School.
Westley Moore- He was Wes's father. He was a journalist and newscaster. Westley died when Wes was three from acute epiglottis. He was a role model to Wes for his calm and caring manner even after he was dead.
Reverand James Thomas- He was Wes's grandfather. He immigrated to the US from Jamaica to get an education and later joined the ministry. James died from complications of stomach cancer.
Winell Thomas- She was Wes's grandmother. She immigrated from Cuba to Jamaica then eventually to the US. She helped Wes's mother with raising Wes and his sisters. Today she still lives in the Bronx.
Uncle Howard- He was one of Wes's main role models and is his uncle. Today he lives in Southern Jersey with his wife and two daughters.
Justin- He was Wes's best friend. He attended the private school with Wes and was a great influence on Wes towards school work ethic.
Shea- He was one of the kids in Wes's neighborhood. Shea was a drug runner and got Wes in trouble for tagging. He stayed in drug dealing and eventually went to prison.
Capt. Ty Hill- He became one of Wes's friends and mentors. Ty was the leader of F company at Valley Forge when Wes arrived. Today he lives in New York and works as a corporate lawyer.
Mayor Schmoke- He was the Mayor of Baltimore and convinced Wes to apply for the Rhodes scholarship.
Mama, Zinzi, and Viwe- They were Wes's host family while he was in South Africa. They were members of the Xhosa tribe.
Colonel Batt- He was the head of Valley Forge when Wes attended the school.
Wes Moore (other)- Wes grew up in West Baltimore and struggled throughout his early life with drug dealing. His alcoholic father was never present and that contributed to some of the bad decisions he made. Today Wes is serving a life sentence in prison for a murder during a robbery.
Mary Moore- Mary is Wes's mother. She struggled to complete her education, due to financial problems. She had Wes at an early age and tried her best to keep him making wise decisions. Today Mary works in elder care and is raising six children, including three of Wes' .
Tony- Tony was Wes's older brother. He was a drug dealer and didn't want Wes to get into that lifestyle. Although he made it his mission to encourage positive decisions for Wes, he made a negative impact because Wes just wanted to be like him. He died later in prison (serving life sentence for robbery murder) due to kidney failure.
Bernard- Bernard was Wes's father. He wasn't present in Wes's life and was an alcoholic.
Alicia- The mother of Wes's first and second children. She only has custody of one of her children.
Cheryl- The mother of Wes's third and fourth children. She was a major drug addict and eventually died from complications of being paralyzed.
Aunt Nicey- She was Wes's aunt. He lived with her when he got out of jail for shooting someone. She required
Levy- He was Wes's friend who got out of the drug business. Levy introduced Wes to Job Corps and was his roommate while they were there.
Bruce Prothero- He was the security guard at the jewelry store robbed by Tony and Wes. He was shot and killed by TOny after pursuing them prior the robbery.
Joy Moore- Joy is Wes's mother. She encouraged Wes to stay on a positive path and worked hard to support her family after her husband died. She sent Wes to military school, which made a drastic change in his life for the better. She is retired from working at a foundation with disadvantaged children. Today Joy is running her own consultancy.
Nikki- She is Wes's older sister. Today she runs her own event-planning business in Virginia.
Shani- She is Wes's younger sister. Today she lives in Los Angeles with her husband and graduated from Princeton and Stanford Law School.
Westley Moore- He was Wes's father. He was a journalist and newscaster. Westley died when Wes was three from acute epiglottis. He was a role model to Wes for his calm and caring manner even after he was dead.
Reverand James Thomas- He was Wes's grandfather. He immigrated to the US from Jamaica to get an education and later joined the ministry. James died from complications of stomach cancer.
Winell Thomas- She was Wes's grandmother. She immigrated from Cuba to Jamaica then eventually to the US. She helped Wes's mother with raising Wes and his sisters. Today she still lives in the Bronx.
Uncle Howard- He was one of Wes's main role models and is his uncle. Today he lives in Southern Jersey with his wife and two daughters.
Justin- He was Wes's best friend. He attended the private school with Wes and was a great influence on Wes towards school work ethic.
Shea- He was one of the kids in Wes's neighborhood. Shea was a drug runner and got Wes in trouble for tagging. He stayed in drug dealing and eventually went to prison.
Capt. Ty Hill- He became one of Wes's friends and mentors. Ty was the leader of F company at Valley Forge when Wes arrived. Today he lives in New York and works as a corporate lawyer.
Mayor Schmoke- He was the Mayor of Baltimore and convinced Wes to apply for the Rhodes scholarship.
Mama, Zinzi, and Viwe- They were Wes's host family while he was in South Africa. They were members of the Xhosa tribe.
Colonel Batt- He was the head of Valley Forge when Wes attended the school.
Wes Moore (other)- Wes grew up in West Baltimore and struggled throughout his early life with drug dealing. His alcoholic father was never present and that contributed to some of the bad decisions he made. Today Wes is serving a life sentence in prison for a murder during a robbery.
Mary Moore- Mary is Wes's mother. She struggled to complete her education, due to financial problems. She had Wes at an early age and tried her best to keep him making wise decisions. Today Mary works in elder care and is raising six children, including three of Wes' .
Tony- Tony was Wes's older brother. He was a drug dealer and didn't want Wes to get into that lifestyle. Although he made it his mission to encourage positive decisions for Wes, he made a negative impact because Wes just wanted to be like him. He died later in prison (serving life sentence for robbery murder) due to kidney failure.
Bernard- Bernard was Wes's father. He wasn't present in Wes's life and was an alcoholic.
Alicia- The mother of Wes's first and second children. She only has custody of one of her children.
Cheryl- The mother of Wes's third and fourth children. She was a major drug addict and eventually died from complications of being paralyzed.
Aunt Nicey- She was Wes's aunt. He lived with her when he got out of jail for shooting someone. She required
Levy- He was Wes's friend who got out of the drug business. Levy introduced Wes to Job Corps and was his roommate while they were there.
Bruce Prothero- He was the security guard at the jewelry store robbed by Tony and Wes. He was shot and killed by TOny after pursuing them prior the robbery.
