Hattie is a sixteen-year-old orphan seeking a sense of belonging and a place to call her own. She travels to Vida, Montana, after inheriting her late Uncle Chester's 320-acre homestead claim. Driven by her desire for a real home, she works relentlessly to meet the strict government requirements of cultivating 40 acres and building fences within a ten-month deadline. She faces the physical hardships of prairie life with determination and learns to rely on her neighbors for survival.

Perilee is a warm, welcoming neighbor who quickly becomes Hattie's closest friend and mentor on the prairie. She lives with her second husband, Karl, and her three young children from a previous abusive marriage. Perilee provides Hattie with practical homesteading advice and emotional support, offering the young woman the family connection she desperately wants. She fiercely protects her family against the growing anti-German sentiment in their community.

Traft is a wealthy local rancher who wants to expand his property by purchasing Hattie's claim. He serves as the head of the Dawson County Council of Defense, an organization that actively monitors citizens' patriotism. He aggressively targets those he deems unpatriotic, specifically focusing his nationalist prejudice on German immigrants and their supporters. His polite demeanor toward Hattie contrasts sharply with his harsh treatment of others.

Karl is a German immigrant and Perilee's husband. He is a kind, hardworking farmer who stepped in to help Perilee after her first husband left. Due to the outbreak of World War I, he faces intense xenophobia from the local citizens and the Council of Defense. He lives in constant fear for his family's safety, choosing to stay close to his farm to avoid unwanted attention and hostility from his neighbors.

Charlie is Hattie's close friend from home who travels to Europe to fight in World War I. He writes letters to Hattie documenting his experiences, providing a firsthand perspective on the harsh realities of warfare. His correspondence gives Hattie a vital link to her past and grounds her understanding of the global conflict happening far away from Montana.

Uncle Holt is Hattie's distant cousin and guardian in Arlington. He shows Hattie kindness and eventually helps her find a wider audience by submitting her letters to the local newspaper. He provides her with a small, essential source of income through this publication.

Aunt Ivy is Hattie's strict and emotionally distant guardian following the death of Hattie's parents. She frequently belittles Hattie and focuses entirely on the young woman's perceived failings. Her harsh treatment motivates Hattie to seek independence and leave for Montana.

Uncle Chester is Hattie's late uncle who dies of an illness before the events of the main story. He leaves his unfinished 320-acre homestead claim, a horse named Plug, and a cow named Violet to his niece, setting her new life in motion.

Chase is Perilee's eight-year-old son from her first marriage. He helps Hattie adapt to her new environment by offering practical advice, such as how to prevent her hand from freezing to the water pump in the morning. He faces bullying at the local school due to his stepfather's German heritage.

Mattie is Perilee's six-year-old daughter. She bonds quickly with Hattie and frequently spends time playing games or reading with her. Her bright presence brings joy to Hattie's isolated life on the prairie.

Fern is Perilee's youngest child, a baby who requires constant care. She travels with her family to community events and represents the vulnerable innocent life the Muellers protect on the homestead.

Mr. Ebgard is the local official responsible for overseeing property claims in Vida. He outlines the strict deadlines and cultivation requirements Hattie must meet to keep her land. He faces violent intimidation from the Council of Defense for defending a local German pastor.

Rooster Jim is a local homesteader who had an agreement with Uncle Chester to deliver mail in exchange for playing chess. He continues this arrangement with Hattie and provides her with a few chickens to help her survive the harsh prairie conditions.

Leafie is an outspoken, shotgun-toting woman who keeps a close eye on the local community. She serves as an informal medical helper during emergencies and firmly opposes the bullying tactics of the Council of Defense.

Mrs. Martin is Traft's mother and a prominent figure in the local church. She uses her social standing to enforce divisions within the community, actively preventing Perilee from participating in church activities.

Mr. Hanson owns the Cash Grocery in town. He refuses to sell coffee to Perilee because of her husband's German heritage, serving as Hattie's first direct exposure to local bigotry.

Elmer is a local farmer with six children. He refuses to register for the military draft because he needs to care for his large family and tend to his farm, resulting in his arrest and harsh treatment by local authorities.

Mabel is Elmer's wife and the mother of six children. She relies on the local community and church donations to bail her husband out of jail after he is arrested for resisting the draft.

Elmer is the oldest child of the Ren family. He breaks his arm while desperately trying to stop the authorities from taking his father to jail over draft evasion.