Catherine is a thirteen-year-old girl who manages the household following the death of her mother four years earlier. She is pious, diligent, and deeply devoted to her family and her local friends. Her worldview begins to expand as she faces moral dilemmas that test her strict understanding of obedience and duty.

Cassie is a year older than Catherine and serves as her primary confidante. She possesses a gentle temperament and a firm moral core, often guiding Catherine through difficult ethical decisions. Physically delicate, she is susceptible to the harsh New England cold.

Charles is a hardworking farmer and widower living in rural New Hampshire. He uses old folk tales to teach his daughters lessons about reason, intelligence, and accepting hardship. He holds strict, conservative views on obedience and the law, viewing the world through a deeply patriotic and pragmatic lens.

Ann is a petite widow from Boston who relocates to the country to join the Hall household. She introduces new routines, moving furniture and asserting a firmer, more proactive approach to daily challenges than the rural locals. She actively seeks to earn her stepdaughters' affection.

Matty is an observant, trusting seven-year-old with her mother's dark, curly hair. Having little memory of her biological mother, she quickly accepts new maternal figures who enter the home. She is prone to speaking her mind and occasionally sharing secrets without realizing their importance.

Asa is a pragmatic and morally steadfast boy exactly Catherine's age. He struggles with his advanced arithmetic lessons at school but excels in evaluating right and wrong in practical situations. He readily protects others, displaying physical courage and a strong sense of justice.

Uncle Jack is Catherine's unmarried uncle who lives nearby and remains a fixture in the Hall family's social life. He frequently debates social and political issues with Charles, often taking a more progressive stance on topics regarding human freedom and autonomy.

Sophy is a local schoolgirl who anticipates moving to Lowell, Massachusetts, to work in the water-powered mills. Her upcoming departure introduces the reality of changing economic times and the shifting paths of young women in New England.

Edward Holt is the local schoolmaster who boards with community families during the winter term. He reads controversial abolitionist materials to his students. This causes severe backlash from the conservative townspeople and forces him to change his boarding arrangements.

Mrs. Shipman is the matriarch of the neighboring family and a close friend to the Halls. She teaches Catherine and Matty household tasks like sewing and food preparation. She represents the cooperative spirit necessary for survival in the rural farming community.

Aunt Lucy is Mrs. Shipman's stylish, unmarried sister. She visits Meredith and brings a touch of fashion and flirtation to the rural community. She initially attempts to capture Charles Hall's attention before redirecting her romantic interests elsewhere.

Daniel is Ann's quiet, tall son who moves from Boston into the room previously shared by Catherine and Matty. He contributes to the farm chores and slowly integrates into the local peer group despite his initial reserve.

Curtis is a lanky, mysterious man seeking refuge in the snowy New Hampshire woods. He leaves a desperate written plea for help in Catherine's lesson book, setting off a moral crisis for the children who discover his presence.

Joshua is a schoolmate of Catherine who occasionally walks the girls home from their lessons. He shows a mild, youthful interest in Catherine, though she remains largely indifferent to his attentions.

Miss Orpha is the female teacher hired to run the summer school session, which is attended primarily by the girls and youngest boys while the older boys work the farms. Catherine takes an immediate liking to her instruction.

A traveling salesman who visits the rural community selling scissors and wares. As the first Jewish person Catherine has ever met, their interaction broadens her understanding of the world through a shared moment of humor regarding his pricing strategies.

Mr. Shipman is the patriarch of the neighboring family. He represents the cooperative necessity of farm life, trading his labor and resources with Charles Hall to ensure both families survive the harsh New England conditions.

David is Cassie's older brother, two years her senior. He works alongside his father and brother Asa, contributing to the heavy agricultural labor required to maintain their family farm.

Willie is the youngest member of the Shipman family. As a baby, he remains under the constant care of the women in his home.