Miranda is a 16-year-old teenager when the novel begins, and the story is told through her journal entries. She is a typical teenage girl at the beginning of the novel, though the death of a close friend has caused a strain in her relationship with her two other friends. As the world prepares for the asteroid to hit the moon, Miranda is preoccupied by her crush on Brandon Erlich, a professional figure skater, and homework. Though prone to tantrums and bouts of immaturity, Miranda is forced to grow up quickly as a result of the catastrophic events that play out in the novel. Her resentment and despair blossom into maturity and a resolve to protect and provide for her family.

Miranda’s mother is a shrewd individual who realizes how desperate things might get in the wake of the moon event. She is proactive and thoughtful, and plans for her family’s survival, foregoing food and comfort to ensure they have a better chance. She has many arguments with Miranda in the novel, as her daughter feels that some of the measures she takes to ensure their survival are unfair.