Dr. and Mrs. McKinnon are Jonathon McKinnon's parents. Sundara became acquainted with Dr. McKinnon before she met Jonathan, however, when he treated Pon when Sundara and her family first immigrated to the United States. Towards the end of the book, Dr. McKinnon also goes to Cambodia to help the refugees. Mrs. McKinnon is a kind-hearted person who supports Jonathan and Sundara's budding friendship. The couple represents the open and sympathetic minds of Americans to the former refugees of war.