Violet is a 22-year-old woman recently released early from prison after serving time for vehicular manslaughter. Reentering society in Portland, Maine, she struggles with severe isolation and the loss of her family's support. She eventually secures a job as a lab assistant working with African grey parrots, where she discovers a natural aptitude for animal care.

Harriet is a 64-year-old retired English teacher who finds deep purpose volunteering at a local women's prison. Living with her college-bound niece, she fears loneliness as her home life approaches an empty-nest transition. She views the incarcerated women as equals, creating discussion questions that encourage them to share their genuine feelings rather than just analyzing the text.

Frank is a 68-year-old retired machinist trying to find his footing after his wife Lorraine dies in a tragic car accident. He carries complicated grief, secretly feeling a measure of relief because their marriage was actively failing before her death. Taking a job fixing things at a local bookstore gives him a sense of purpose and routine.

Vicki is Violet’s older sister, raised in the same strict religious community in Abbott Falls. She fulfills her familial duty by securing Violet an apartment but maintains rigid emotional boundaries. She refuses to let Violet return to their hometown, aligning herself with the community's judgment.

Dawna-Lynn is an incarcerated woman serving a 15-year sentence who attends Harriet's weekly reading group. She possesses a beautiful singing voice and a sharp, unapologetic personality. The stress of confinement wears heavily on her, especially as she faces legal setbacks regarding a potential new trial.

Lorraine is Frank's late wife and Kristy's mother, killed in a car crash caused by Violet's reckless driving. Prior to the accident, she worked as a kindergarten teacher. Her secret affair and impending divorce left behind a complicated emotional legacy for her husband.

Kristy is Frank and Lorraine's adult daughter. She holds deep anger toward Violet for causing the accident and aggressively pushed for the maximum legal sentence in court. She remains fiercely protective of her mother's memory and holds a distinctly different perspective on her parents' marriage than her father does.

Sophie is Harriet's niece, taken in at age 12 after her mother Corinne died. Now preparing to leave for college at Berkeley, she is highly protective of her aunt. She plans to study social work but frequently displays a judgmental attitude toward the formerly incarcerated women Harriet helps.

Dr. Mikhail Petrov, who asks Violet to call him Misha, is a dedicated scientist studying avian cognition. He left his home in Russia to research the intelligence of African grey parrots, hoping the work will eventually help children with disabilities. He commands respect in the lab but shows a softer side to Violet.

Troy is Violet's former fiancé and a local football star in their hometown. During a road trip, he purchased alcohol and pills and insisted Violet drive despite her protests. He entirely abandoned her during the trial, facing no legal or social consequences for his role in the fatal crash.

Aunt Pammy is Violet and Vicki's aunt, steeped in the rigid religious culture of Abbott Falls. She acts as a harsh enforcer of the town's social boundaries, aggressively chastising Violet for returning home and claiming that God will not forgive her actions.

Baker is a young clerk at the local independent bookstore where Frank works. She brings a vibrant, youthful energy to the shop and gently teases Frank about his obvious crush on Harriet, eventually encouraging him to use his machinist skills to make an apology gift.

Mr. Flinders is the unit manager at the women's correctional facility. He views the Book Club with intense suspicion, believing that giving incarcerated women the freedom to think and express themselves disrupts order. He enforces rules strictly to intimidate volunteers.

Stoneface is the nickname given to a strict guard at the correctional facility. He represents the rigid, dehumanizing structure of the prison environment, quickly resorting to physical restraint when the women express anger or frustration.

Mrs. Rocha oversees hiring and administrative duties at the university bird lab. She institutes a strict probationary period for new hires but treats Violet fairly, focusing on her ability to clean the lab and care for the parrots rather than her criminal past.

Ollie is an African grey parrot kept in the university research lab. Unlike the star bird Charlotte, Ollie struggles to learn the required cognitive tasks and is frequently ignored by the scientists. He responds warmly to Violet's attention and singing.

Pastor Rick is a religious leader in the strict community of Abbott Falls. He projects an image of moral authority to the congregation, though Violet harbors deeply painful memories regarding his past abusive behavior toward her.

Katya is Dr. Mikhail Petrov's pregnant wife. Her existence remains a point of tension for the lab staff, as her husband maintains strict boundaries between his home life and his research work.

Dorothy is a member of the prison Book Club who works in the facility's kitchen. She looks forward to applying for leave to attend her son's graduation from welding school, maintaining hope for family connections on the outside.

Jenny Big is a Book Club member at the correctional facility. She actively engages with the poetry assignments and uses the writing exercises to channel her affection toward her dog on the outside.

Marnie is a clerk at Wadsworth Books. She enjoys a friendly rapport with Frank, playfully observing his immediate attraction to Harriet when she visits the store to buy poetry books.

Charlotte is an exceptionally intelligent African grey parrot in the university lab. She excels at complex cognitive tasks like shell games and sabotage, serving as the primary focus of the avian research program.