Who’s Who in Zara’s World
ZARA At 10 years old, Zara is navigating school, family pressure, and the very loud opinions of her own digestive tract. She’s an imaginative dreamer who asks big philosophical questions (usually right before dinner) and loves high-stakes snacking. Even if Omie later makes her regret the fourth samosa.
OMIE The microscopic advisor. He’s sassy, he’s cultured (literally), and he is the self-proclaimed CEO of Zara’s microbiome. Omie loves complex fiber, fears a sugar tsunami, and is never afraid to deliver a harsh reality check from the inside out. He takes his job of keeping Zara “regular” very seriously.
MISHA The cool (and slightly judgmental) older sister. At 13, Misha is balancing teenage life with the daily burden of having a highly embarrassing little sister. She’s athletic, practical, and the undisputed master of the sibling eye-roll.
MA The Chief Nutrition Officer. Ma is on an eternal, loving quest to sneak fiber into her children’s diets. She believes in the healing power of homemade dahi, the absolute necessity of beans, and that a jar of funky-smelling kimchi actually smells like “victory.”
PAPA The calm center of the household chaos. Papa is the mediator who tries to balance Ma’s health kicks with the kids’ desire for fun. He’s big on mindfulness and taught Zara deep breathing techniques, which come in handy when her gut is having a meltdown.
AARI Zara’s best friend and snacking partner-in-crime. Aari possesses a seemingly iron stomach that can digest fluorescent blue slushies and super-spicy chips without a single rumble. She is the carefree foil to Zara’s often-worried gut.
JAY The reluctant genius. A certified math wiz and studious introvert, Jay usually needs to be physically pried away from his books by Zara and Veer to come outside. He’s the “good kid” voice of reason who calculates the exact odds of Veer’s plans failing, but surprises everyone with a razor-sharp, quiet wit when he finally joins in the fun.
VEER The neighborhood smooth-talker. Veer is sassy, supremely confident, and a bit of a pint-sized hustler. He always has a scheme, a shortcut, or a blunt opinion delivered with charming swagger. He’s the adventurous speed-demon on bikes and skates who pushes Zara out of her comfort zone (and usually right into trouble).
COACH T: The overly intense P.E. teacher. Coach T believes every problem in life can be solved by running another lap around the track. She doesn’t understand “microbiome diversity,” but she definitely understands yelling “HUSTLE!” and blowing his whistle.
