Kate is the second-youngest of the Morrison siblings and works as an assistant professor of zoology in Toronto. Orphaned at age seven, she grows up with a deep emotional restraint and a strong reverence for education, instilled heavily by her brother Matt. In her adult life, she struggles with feelings of inadequacy regarding her academic success, feeling she owes her position to the sacrifices of her brothers.

The eldest Morrison sibling, Luke is a practical and determined young man with broad shoulders and fair hair. Following the death of his parents, he decides to forgo his plans for higher education to keep the family together. He takes on odd jobs and the immense responsibility of raising his younger sisters, often relying on stubborn optimism to push through difficult financial realities.

The highly intelligent, observant second-oldest Morrison sibling. Matt is the only child who physically resembles their academically driven great-grandmother. He possesses a deep wonder for the natural world and serves as Kate's primary childhood teacher. He feels an intense pressure to secure the family's future, frequently clashing with Luke over how best to ensure their survival.

The youngest Morrison child, born Elizabeth but known as Bo. She is just an infant when her parents are killed and grows into a loud, stubborn toddler who firmly knows what she wants. She forms an intense early attachment to Luke and fiercely resists the presence of outsiders.

A 34-year-old zoology professor specializing in bacteria who comes from a family of emotive, argumentative academics. He is easygoing and generous, but he feels isolated by Kate's refusal to share her past. He pushes for greater intimacy and actively wants to understand the rural upbringing that shaped his girlfriend.

The patriarch of the Pye family and the Morrisons' closest neighbor. He runs a farm where he employs both Luke and Matt. He continues a generational pattern of severe abuse, regularly beating his son and terrorizing his wife and daughters.

The short, pragmatic older sister of the Morrison siblings' father. She travels to Crow Lake to help organize the children's affairs, scrubbing the house and speaking with lawyers. Although she is highly doubtful that Luke can successfully raise his sisters alone, she eventually accepts his decision and returns home.

The oldest daughter of the Pye family, matching Matt in age. She drops out of school to help her mother maintain their household. Living under the constant threat of her father's temper, she is chronically anxious and fearful, eventually finding small moments of comfort in her interactions with Matt.

The 14-year-old son of Calvin Pye. He frequently misses school to work on the family farm and is the primary target of his father's physical abuse. Unlike the rest of his family, he occasionally attempts to stand up to Calvin, a defiance that only increases the danger he faces at home.

Calvin Pye's wife and the mother of Laurie, Marie, and Rosie. She lives in a state of constant intimidation under her husband's rule, suffering injuries like a broken arm that she attributes to falls.

The youngest member of the Pye family. The strain of her violent household is evident in her behavior at school, where she is so nervous she once urinated on the floor when called upon by a teacher.

Matt and Marie's son in the adult timeline. He represents the next generation of the Morrison family and has a relaxed, happy relationship with his father as he prepares to attend university.

The redheaded daughter of the family that owns the general store where Luke works. She pursues a romantic relationship with Luke, unaware or unconcerned with the heavy domestic burdens he carries.

The local schoolteacher who recognizes Matt's exceptional intelligence. She advocates strongly for his continued education and worries about the isolated, neglected children in the farming community.

A deeply religious neighbor in Crow Lake. Though her early condolences frustrate Kate, she provides practical support by cleaning the house and watching the younger girls two evenings a week.

The local physician in Crow Lake. He monitors the orphaned family's progress, offering a graceful exit if Luke's plan fails, and treats their medical emergencies.

An elderly resident belonging to one of Crow Lake's three founding families. She serves as the community historian, passing down stories of the Pye family's generational trauma to Kate.

A university student from a small farming community in Quebec. Her lack of familial support for her education causes her to doubt her academic path, providing Kate with a crucial perspective on her own upbringing.