Seth is a seventeen-year-old young man moving to Galveston, Texas, with his family. While his father expects him to attend college and become a doctor or lawyer, Seth desperately wants to pursue a career in carpentry. He struggles with his desire for independence and his frustration over being assigned childcare duties, feeling trapped between childhood and adulthood.

Papa is Seth's father, a hardworking carpenter who hopes to establish his own contracting business in the thriving city. He is emotionally distant and slow to offer verbal praise to his children. Wanting financial security for his sons, he rigidly insists they attend college, putting him at odds with Seth's ambitions.

Josiah is a young Black man in his mid-teens who works as a carpenter and lives with his grandfather, Ezra. He is highly aware of the strict, racist social boundaries in 1900 Texas and maintains a careful, formal distance when Seth attempts to befriend him. He is a diligent worker and a cautious but observant peer.

Mama is Seth's mother, a resilient woman who remains optimistic about their new life in the city. She frequently relies on Seth to help manage the younger children, especially Kate, which occasionally causes friction in the household.

Uncle Nate is Papa's brother and a prosperous resident of Galveston. Having encouraged the family to move to the bustling city, he frequently points out its impressive architecture and business opportunities. He owns a lumberyard and helps secure Seth his summer carpentry job.

Ezra is Uncle Nate's hired man, a hardworking Black man who tends the yard and handles heavy physical labor. He experiences systemic racism from white society, including insensitive comments from members of Seth's family, but remains a steady, diligent presence.

Ella Rose is a blonde girl who attends a private school in Galveston. She quickly captures Seth's attention and affection. She is friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable about the local weather patterns and the region's history.

Matt is Seth's twelve-year-old younger brother. He is kind-hearted and playful, demonstrated when he gently includes a young Black boy in a neighborhood game of baseball.

Kate is Seth's four-year-old sister. As the youngest in the family, she requires constant supervision, a duty that frequently falls to a reluctant Seth when Mama is busy.

Zach is an experienced carpenter who possesses an almost mystical connection to wood and building. His steady, intuitive approach to his work awakens Seth's own deep passion for the craft.

Mr. Farrell is the boss of the carpentry crew that Seth joins for the summer. He is fair and quick to praise good work, providing Seth with the professional validation he craves.

Henry is Ella Rose's older cousin and a member of Mr. Farrell's carpentry crew. Though he is initially skeptical of Seth's youth and skill, he proves to be a capable builder himself.

Aunt Julia is Uncle Nate's wife. She provides a warm, welcoming home for the extended family when they first arrive in the city and helps them settle into their new environment.

Ben is Uncle Nate and Aunt Julia's college-aged son. He works a grocery delivery job to help pay for his classes and aims to become a doctor, providing a contrast to Seth's rejection of higher education.