Demon is a young boy growing up in Lee County, Virginia, raised by a young single mother struggling with addiction. He has a vivid imagination, a talent for drawing, and a deep, unexplained fascination with the ocean. Independent and resilient by necessity, he relies heavily on the neighboring Peggot family for stability and care. He uses a tough exterior to protect himself from the neglect prevalent in his community.

The Peggots are an older married couple living next door to Demon and his mother. They provide a secure, loving home environment and act as surrogate parents for Demon during his most desperate moments. They raise their grandson, Maggot, while managing the social stigma of their daughter's incarceration.

Maggot is Demon's lifelong best friend, raised by his grandparents because his mother is in prison. He is a sensitive boy who eventually adopts a goth aesthetic, wearing heavy eyeliner and dark clothing. This personal style places him at odds with the rural culture of Lee County.

Stoner is a beer deliveryman who becomes the head of Demon's household. He projects an image of stability but is deeply cruel and controlling. He uses emotional manipulation and physical violence to assert dominance over Demon and his mother, actively isolating them from their support systems.

Tommy is an orphaned boy who has spent his entire life in the foster care system. He struggles with his weight and endures frequent teasing from Crickson, but he remains exceptionally kind and optimistic. He draws skeletons when his feelings are hurt and forms an immediate, steady bond with Demon.

Fast Forward is a charismatic high school football star and the oldest foster child living with Crickson. He holds immense sway over the younger boys, organizing them into a group he calls the 'Hillbilly Squadron.' He provides them with candy and illicit substances, acting as both a protector and a dangerous influence.

Emmy is Aunt June's niece and adopted daughter. She is a precocious and popular girl who grows close to Demon during a childhood trip to the aquarium. She enjoys a stable home life in Knoxville before moving back to Lee County, where she is eager to experience the world and begins associating with an older crowd.

June is a registered nurse and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peggot. She is a dedicated medical professional with a strong moral compass, working in the emergency room and providing stability for her family. She adopts her niece Emmy and consistently acts as a safe harbor for the children in her orbit.

Angus is Coach Winfield's highly intelligent, opinionated daughter. She initially lets people assume she is a boy, establishing her independence and rejecting frivolous middle school social norms. She acts as a grounded, fiercely loyal sister figure to Demon, enforcing house rules and managing her father's household.

Coach Winfield is a locally celebrated high school football coach and a grieving widower. He holds a godlike status in Lee County due to the community's obsession with football. He provides Demon with a luxurious, stable home environment and actively encourages his athletic potential, though he struggles privately with alcohol.

U-Haul is a pale, quiet man who works as an errand boy for Coach Winfield but introduces himself as the assistant coach. He is deeply resentful of his subordinate position and constantly inserts himself into the Winfield family dynamic. He watches Demon and Angus closely, waiting for opportunities to exploit their vulnerabilities.

Dori is a beautiful, sheltered teenager who misses school to act as the sole caretaker for her terminally ill father. Her entire identity revolves around sickness and caregiving, leaving her isolated from normal adolescent experiences. She forms an intense, immediate romantic connection with Demon.

Crickson is a widower who runs a failing cattle and tobacco farm. He takes in adolescent foster boys for government checks and free farm labor. While he feeds the boys adequate meals, he maintains a transactional and emotionally cold household, occasionally mocking the more vulnerable children.

The McCobbs are an impoverished married couple with four young children. They maintain a facade of respectability but actively exploit the foster care system for financial gain. They relegate Demon to the laundry room, withhold food, and force him to work at a local market to subsidize their household expenses.

Miss Barks is a young, overwhelmed social worker assigned to Demon's case. She takes night classes to earn her teaching certificate, hoping to secure a better-paying job. While she goes through the administrative motions of helping Demon, she frequently misses the reality of his abusive living situations.

Betsy is Demon's formidable paternal grandmother. She raises several young girls on her property but strictly refuses to take in boys, harboring a deep suspicion of men. She is practical, stubborn, and deeply loyal to her family, intervening to ensure Demon escapes the official foster care system.

Dick is Betsy's elderly brother who uses a wheelchair due to a lifelong spinal condition. Despite his physical frailty, he possesses a sharp intellect and a peaceful disposition. He is a voracious reader who honors his favorite authors by writing their quotes on kites he flies in the sky.

Hammer is Maggot's cousin and a fundamentally decent young man from the Peggot extended family. He loves Emmy deeply and becomes increasingly distressed by the dangerous crowd she associates with. He is protective, reactive, and fiercely loyal to the people he cares about.

Demon's mother is a young, impoverished woman in Lee County struggling with severe substance use issues. She loves her son but lacks the necessary coping mechanisms and resources to provide a stable life, frequently falling back into dangerous habits and relationships despite her efforts to remain sober.

Mr. Armstrong is a dedicated middle school counselor and English teacher who champions critical thinking. As one of the few Black residents in the area, he brings an outsider's perspective to Lee County's history, teaching his students to understand their Appalachian heritage and recognizing Demon's hidden intellectual potential.

Mrs. Annie is a high school art teacher who nurtures Demon's artistic talents. She works closely with him to develop his drawing skills, offering him a quiet sanctuary away from the chaos of his home life and the pressures of the football field.

Swap-Out is a physically small foster boy living with Crickson. He struggles academically, having been held back several grades due to developmental delays. He is a quiet member of the 'Hillbilly Squadron' who later drops out of school and works menial jobs around the county.

Mr. Golly is an immigrant from India who runs a local market that also serves as a front for illegal activities. He occasionally shows small kindnesses to Demon, sharing stories of his own background in a rigid class system to explain his perspective on American society.