Mama is the resourceful and loving matriarch of the family, raising her five daughters in a four-room apartment on New York's Lower East Side in 1912. She orchestrates the household's daily life, balancing practical management with creative problem-solving to make chores fun for her children. As the keeper of traditions, she meticulously prepares for the Sabbath and other holidays, providing her family with a strong sense of cultural identity despite their modest economic circumstances.

Papa is the hardworking patriarch of the family, operating a damp basement junk shop where he sorts rags and metals. He serves as a gentle provider for his wife and five daughters, maintaining a generous spirit even when money is tight. Deeply connected to his Jewish faith, he leads his family in religious observances and quietly harbors a traditional desire for a son.

At twelve years old, Ella is the eldest of the five sisters and acts as a serious, maternal deputy to her mother. She organizes her younger siblings, helps with household chores, and takes the lead during family activities. Transitioning from childhood to early adolescence, she begins to experience a deeper awareness of the world around her, particularly through her interactions with her father's friend Charlie.

Ten-year-old Henny is the spirited, mischievous force within the family. Unlike her more serious sisters, she possesses an insatiable desire for fun and frequently resists mundane responsibilities like dusting. Her adventurous and sometimes rebellious nature often leads to minor troubles, but she remains fiercely loyal to her family when crises arise.

Eight-year-old Sarah is a highly conscientious and sensitive child with a strong moral compass. She feels a deep sense of responsibility, clearly seen when she becomes distressed over losing a borrowed library book. Though typically good-natured and compliant, she has a stubborn streak that occasionally causes friction with her mother over household rules.

Six-year-old Charlotte is the dreamer of the family, known for her vivid imagination and love of fairy tales. She frequently invents clever games, especially secret nighttime feasts with her youngest sister, Gertie. Her compassionate nature extends to her family and community, and she uses her creativity to find joy in their modest circumstances.

At four years old, Gertie is the youngest of the five sisters and relies heavily on her older siblings for guidance and entertainment. She views the world with a naive curiosity, enjoying simple pleasures like sharing candied fruit or looking at picture magazines she cannot yet read. She carefully participates in family traditions, absorbing the cultural heritage passed down by her parents.

Charlie is a handsome, educated young man who assists Papa in his basement junk shop. He acts as a surrogate uncle to the five girls, frequently surprising them with thoughtful gifts like discarded books and holiday firecrackers. He carries an underlying melancholy and periodically disappears from the shop, keeping his personal history private from the neighborhood.

Miss Allen is the friendly new librarian at the local public library. She represents the broader world of American culture and opportunity for the immigrant children of the Lower East Side. When Sarah loses a book, she bypasses strict institutional rules to offer a compassionate payment plan, quickly establishing herself as a trusted, warm presence in the girls' lives.

Polack is a stolid, quiet peddler who frequents Papa's junk shop on the Lower East Side. He is part of the neighborhood's working-class immigrant community, often gathering around the shop's warm stove for camaraderie on damp afternoons.

Joe is an expressive Italian peddler who does business with Papa at the basement junk shop. He is vocal about the challenges of their trade, freely complaining when the rain negatively affects their daily earnings.

Picklenose is a weathered local peddler and a regular presence in Papa's junk shop. His visible poverty reflects the neighborhood's economic struggles, evidenced by his need to cut cardboard to reinforce his worn-out shoes.

Uncle Hyman is Mama's brother, a relative who occasionally visits the family apartment. He shows his affection for his nieces by gifting them pennies, which they eagerly use to fund their small adventures and treats.

Tanta Rivka is an aunt to the five girls and a part of the family's extended network on the Lower East Side. The children visit her to deliver homemade treats in masquerade costumes during the joyful Purim celebration.

Uncle Chaim is a relative who lives nearby and participates in the family's holiday traditions. He is one of the recipients of the girls' homemade baked goods during their lively Purim deliveries.

Doctor Fuchs is the local physician who tends to the neighborhood's medical needs. He visits the family's apartment to examine the children and formally diagnoses them when illness strikes the household.

Tillie is a school friend of Sarah who borrows a cherished library book. When she misplaces it and insists she returned it to Sarah's desk, she inadvertently initiates a major financial crisis for Sarah over the lost item.

Mrs. Blumberg is the proprietor of a local candy store in the neighborhood. She sells treats like chocolate babies to the younger children when they have a rare penny to spend.

Mr. Basch runs a neighborhood grocery store. The girls visit his shop to purchase affordable treats, such as bags of assorted broken crackers, for their secret bedtime feasts.

Mr. Pincus owns a local bargain store where the family shops for affordable goods. He shows kindness to the young girls by offering a small discount on a special china cup they want to buy for their father's birthday.