Nora is a seventh-grade aspiring journalist and lifelong resident of Wolf Creek. As the daughter of the local prison's superintendent, she possesses a keen interest in historical prison escapes but has never questioned her own privilege or the dynamics of her predominantly white town. She is sincere, driven to uncover facts, and eager to record history accurately, though her early attempts at reporting sometimes lack empathy.

Elidee is a new student who recently moved to Wolf Creek from New York City with her mother. As one of the few Black students in town, she feels isolated and judged by her peers. She writes poetry modeled on famous authors to process her feelings and tries to maintain perfect behavior to avoid drawing negative attention while missing her incarcerated brother.

Lizzie is Nora's best friend and an enthusiastic contributor to the time capsule project. Known for her high-energy, irreverent tone and talent for writing parodies, she brings a skeptical but humorous perspective to the town's traditions. She is loyal to her family and frequently defends her grandmother, who works in the prison cafeteria.

James is one of the two convicted murderers who break out of the Wolf Creek Correctional Facility. His escape triggers a massive three-week manhunt that turns the usually quiet town upside down with fear, lockdowns, and suspicion.

John is the second convicted murderer who breaks out of the prison. Along with James Young, his evasion of the police causes statewide panic and intense scrutiny of the town's prison administration and its employees.

Owen is Nora's younger brother, an imaginative boy who views the prison escape strictly through the lens of good versus evil. Frustrated that the lockdown threatens his backyard birthday campout, he draws elaborate "Master Plans and Evil Plots" in a notebook to capture the inmates himself.

Sean is Nora's older brother who plans to attend Syracuse University. He possesses a strong understanding of institutional racism and criminal justice reform, frequently challenging his parents' traditional viewpoints. He serves as a voice of reason, explaining legal history and social issues to Nora.

Bill is Nora's father and the superintendent of the local prison. He is a dedicated professional who believes in doing his job within the established system. The stress of the massive manhunt quickly consumes his daily life, subjecting him to harsh media scrutiny and forcing him away from his family during the crisis.

Mrs. Tucker is Nora's mother, a protective parent who grows increasingly anxious as the manhunt escalates. She tries to maintain normalcy for her children by organizing community efforts like making local food for the searching officers, but she strictly enforces curfews to keep her family safe.

Troy is Elidee's older brother, currently serving a long sentence at the Wolf Creek Correctional Facility. Before his incarceration, he was a caring brother who sold lemonade and looked out for his sister. He serves as the primary recipient of Elidee's heartfelt, unsent letters.

Latanya, frequently called Mama by Elidee, is a loving and resilient mother building a life in a predominantly white town. She encourages her daughter to stay focused, practice self-control, and actively participate in the community, despite facing subtle discrimination when seeking employment.

Priscilla is Lizzie's grandmother and a lifelong employee at the prison cafeteria. She is known throughout her family for her baking and generosity, serving as a stable presence in Lizzie's life until the prison investigation begins.

Elizabeth is a professional television reporter covering the massive manhunt. She acts friendly toward Nora, treating her like an assistant reporter, but twists the young girl's words on television to make the prison administration look bad and sensationalize the story.

Cole is a middle school student in Wolf Creek who bullies Elidee. He uses the tense atmosphere of the manhunt as an excuse to make racist jokes about her running abilities and her family, making the school environment hostile for the new student.

Walker is a student who teams up with Cole to bully Elidee. He attempts to excuse his racist remarks by claiming he is friends with the only other Black student in the school, which reveals his deep ignorance.

Mrs. Jablonski is an older white resident of Wolf Creek who enthusiastically supports law enforcement. She organizes a community dinner for the searching police officers and explicitly turns away Elidee and Latanya when they politely offer to help.

Mrs. Roy is the middle school gym teacher. She exhibits implicit bias by immediately assuming Elidee is at fault during an altercation, scolding the new student for her attitude while ignoring the boys' racist provocations.

Mr. Simmons is the principal of Wolf Creek Middle School. He attempts to maintain order during the manhunt, canceling outdoor events for safety and delivering morning announcements that sometimes feature misattributed historical quotes.

Trooper Elliott is a police officer guarding the middle school. He stands up for Elidee when Cole tries to pressure her into participating in a law enforcement appreciation project, affirming her right to make her own choices.

Mr. Washington is a Black corrections officer who lives in Wolf Creek. While out for a run, he is wrongly profiled and surrounded by armed police officers who mistake him for one of the escaped inmates, an event that profoundly shocks Nora.

Martha runs Joe's Mountain Market!, a local store where the girls frequently hang out. She hopes the manhunt boosts her business and suddenly enforces a 'no backpacks' policy only when Elidee enters the store, treating the new student with suspicion.