Noelle Ventura is one of the protagonists of the novel. Noelle is only 10 the first time her character is seen in the novel. She is the oldest daughter of Lacey May and Robbie Ventura. From the beginning, Noelle is strong-willed, the first to argue with her mother when it becomes clear that something isn’t right at home. Noelle refuses to play the game Lacey May makes up to distract the children from the cold, which Margarita mentions to her teacher and eventually leads to the school’s threats of calling Child Protective Services. Noelle has no idea that her stubbornness led Lacey May to move the children in with Hank Gibbs. Instead, Noelle develops a low opinion of her mother and judges both her and Hank for getting together so quickly.

As Noelle enters high school, she finds herself increasingly at odds with her mother. At the same time, Noelle struggles to understand her identity, trying to figure out if she is Latina or white, if she fits in with her goth boyfriend or the theater group. When integration comes to Central High School, Noelle finds herself pitted against her own mother. Lacey May expresses open prejudice against the incoming students, while Noelle purposely seeks out Gee, a transfer student, and invites him to work with her on the school play.