Ivy is a highly observant and imaginative girl growing up in a large, poor family in rural Virginia. She possesses a deep love for reading, poetry, and storytelling, often writing letters to process her emotions and experiences. Fiercely independent, she adopts her father's mindset of never wanting to be "beholden" to anyone, creating a lifelong resistance against being owned or controlled.

Silvaney is Ivy's oldest sister and twin to their brother Babe. Having suffered brain fever as an infant, she experiences cognitive impairments, scares easily, and is unable to attend school. Ivy shares a profound emotional connection with her, viewing Silvaney as a manifestation of her own soul and writing to her constantly as a form of self-expression.

Beulah is Ivy's second oldest sister, harboring deep resentment toward her poor upbringing on the Sugar Fork farm. She focuses heavily on upward mobility and material wealth, eager to escape the rural lifestyle entirely. Her family often views her ambitions as an attempt to act better than her roots.

Ethel is the sister closest in age to Ivy, though entirely different in temperament. Highly practical and lacking imagination, she refuses to indulge in Ivy's fanciful childhood games. She maintains a strong work ethic and a straightforward, honest perspective on the world around her.

Victor is Ivy's second-oldest brother. He holds a promising position working for a lumber company before deciding to join the military as global conflicts approach.

Garnie is Ivy's third-oldest brother. From a young age, he displays an intense inclination toward religion and falls under the influence of a charismatic local preacher. He focuses heavily on the concepts of sin, judgment, and salvation, setting him apart from his nonreligious sister.

John Arthur is Ivy's father, a once-robust man whose health is steadily declining due to heart disease. He maintains a fierce pride, insisting on never being "beholden" to others, a philosophy he heavily imparts to his daughter Ivy.

Maude is Ivy's mother, a woman who originally came from a wealthy background but eloped with John Arthur out of love. Years of poverty, child-rearing, and hard farm labor have physically and emotionally exhausted her, leaving her looking haunted and worn.

Franklin is the son of the powerful mine owner in the town of Diamond. Wealthy and heavily privileged, he operates without consequences and drinks frequently to cope with the childhood trauma of witnessing his older brother die. His background represents an entirely different social class from the rural workers.

Curtis is an ambitious young man who pursues a relationship with Beulah against his own mother's wishes. He aspires to become a successful businessman and provide a wealthy lifestyle, eventually moving to the mining town of Diamond to seek upward mobility.

Oakley is a hardworking boy from Sugar Fork who gives Ivy her first kiss. A steady and reliable presence, he eventually moves to Diamond to work in the dangerous coal mines as the local economy shifts. He maintains a quiet, protective affection for Ivy despite her frequent rejections.

Honey is a charismatic, womanizing drifter who wanders freely through the Virginia mountains. With his golden hair and natural storytelling abilities, he strongly resembles the fantastical heroes from the stories Ivy cherished during her childhood. He lives without permanent ties or obligations.

Lonnie is an early sweetheart who awakens Ivy's physical desires when she is young. He holds highly traditional views on relationships and is eager to marry and settle down before heading off to serve in the military, though his rigid expectations clash directly with Ivy's need for independence.

Molly is Mrs. Brown's niece and becomes Ivy's first real friend outside of her immediate family. Despite possessing wealth and material comforts that Ivy envies, Molly comes from a highly unstable home life, prompting Ivy to realize that money does not guarantee happiness.

Louisa Brown is Ivy's schoolteacher and an early mentor who recognizes her bright mind. She actively encourages Ivy to pursue an education, though she carries personal sorrow over her inability to have children in her own marriage.

Geneva operates a busy boardinghouse in Majestic and serves as a longtime friend to Maude Rowe. She possesses a soft-spoken, easygoing nature and holds much more relaxed attitudes regarding romance and social expectations than other adults, making her highly influential to young Ivy.

Miss Torrington is a highly educated teacher with pale features and intense purple-blue eyes. She takes a heavy interest in Ivy's intellectual potential, viewing her rural habits as backward. She is determined to groom the young girl for a sophisticated life in Boston, though her attention sometimes crosses standard professional boundaries.

Babe is Ivy's oldest brother and the twin to Silvaney. His erratic, troubled nature makes the rest of the family deeply uncomfortable and severely exacerbates Silvaney's mental instability whenever he is present in Sugar Fork.

Hanneke is a foreign correspondent living in Europe. She serves as Ivy's earliest audience, receiving highly detailed, rambling letters about farm life in Sugar Fork, though she never actively replies to the correspondence.

Sam Russell Sage is a charismatic local preacher who attracts a strong following in the community. Despite his outward displays of piety, he frequently engages in hypocritical behavior, utilizing religion to secure money and influence while pursuing illicit romances.

Revel is John Arthur's brother, stepping up to act as a patriarchal figure for the Rowe family during a period of intense grief. He provides material support, buying the girls store-bought dresses, but his presence introduces a scandalous disruption to the community.

Mr. Brown is the husband of Ivy's schoolteacher. His home life is fraught with severe marital friction, culminating in profound despair upon discovering his wife's romantic indiscretions.

Violet is a neighbor in the company town who possesses a deep, realistic understanding of the mining industry's hazards. She provides crucial warnings about both the physical dangers of the work and the questionable character of the mine owner's son.

Danny is one of Ivy's many brothers. His sudden illness deeply impacts the family, contributing to their mother's decision to leave the farm and seek a new life in Majestic.

Mr. Castle is Maude's estranged father. He highly disapproves of his daughter's choice to marry a poor farmer and remains emotionally and geographically distant from the family in Sugar Fork.