Reesa is a twelve-year-old White girl living in Mayflower, Florida. Raised by progressive parents who recently migrated from the North, she possesses a natural curiosity. She relies heavily on the wisdom of her closest friend, Marvin, a young Black man whose sudden, brutal death deeply traumatizes her. Reesa acts as an observant witness, trying to understand the harsh realities of the Jim Crow South following the murder.

Warren is a citrus grower who relocated his family to Florida from the North. Having survived polio with a crippled hand, he finds solace in playing the piano. He possesses a quiet dignity and actively seeks justice for his Black neighbors, refusing to turn a blind eye to the local Ku Klux Klan's violence.

Marvin is a nineteen-year-old Black teenager who works in the local orange groves. He loves baseball, particularly the Brooklyn Dodgers, and acts as a mentor to the McMahon children. He is brutally murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in the opening chapters, and his violent death acts as the primary catalyst for the events in Mayflower.

Luther is a Black man living in Mayflower, Florida, who directs the local church choir. Following the tragic murder of his son, he collaborates quietly with Warren McMahon to gather intelligence on the Ku Klux Klan. He leverages his connections within the Black community to safely monitor the movements of violent local men.

Emmett Casselton serves as the Grand Cyklops of the local Ku Klux Klan chapter. He owns a vast orchard where Klan members frequently gather to orchestrate violence against Black citizens. He operates with total impunity due to his control over local law enforcement.

Armetta is Luther's wife and Marvin's mother, an emotionally resilient Black woman who works as a domestic laborer. Following her son's murder, she firmly refuses to return to work for employers affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan. She draws immense strength from her faith, believing that God molds people like clay.

Doto is Warren's vivacious mother who frequently visits Florida in her luxurious DeSoto. She brings gifts and provides emotional comfort to her grandchildren. Her presence accidentally leads to a major breakthrough when she and the children overhear a group of men discussing Marvin's murder in a diner.

Lizbeth is Reesa's mother, a woman who relies on quiet stoicism to survive the terror invading her community. She frequently uses card games as a metaphor for life, believing that people must play the hands they are dealt while waiting for their luck to turn. She masks her deep fears behind an impenetrable poker face.

Ren is the middle child in the McMahon family, an adventurous boy who immerses himself in rural Florida life. He enjoys catching rattlesnakes with his friend Petey and passionately supports the Brooklyn Dodgers. His innocent explorations occasionally put him in direct physical danger.

Maybelle is the stern, unapproachable local postmistress who routinely listens in on party lines and scrutinizes patrons' mail. Initially feared by the town's children, her harsh exterior masks decades of unresolved grief stemming from the death of her fiancé during World War I.

Maryvale, known as Vaylie, is a young girl from Virginia who visits Mayflower and quickly befriends Reesa. She deals with severe instability at home due to her parents' substance abuse, finding solace in written correspondence and watching local snake races.

Harry T. Moore is the state secretary of the NAACP and a dedicated civil rights leader. He travels to investigate racially motivated violence, understanding the extreme physical danger his work entails.

Thurgood Marshall is a prominent Black attorney working on civil rights cases across the South. He leverages his legal expertise to challenge systemic injustices, hoping to escalate local murders to federal attention.

Agent Jameson is a representative of the FBI investigating the string of bombings and civil rights violations in Florida. He collaborates with Warren to formulate strategies against the local Klan.

Sal is an Italian Catholic grocer living in Mayflower. He and his wife face intense intimidation and property damage from the Klan due to their religion and heritage.

Sophia is an Italian Catholic woman who operates a local grocery store alongside her husband. She seeks solace in her religious faith as the Ku Klux Klan begins harassing their business.

Robert is a seventeen-year-old employee working for Warren McMahon. He willingly volunteers for dangerous tasks, motivated by his own family's history of surviving racist violence.

Reed Garnet is a local man directly involved in the brutal beating of Marvin. He attempts to conceal his violent activities from the authorities, prioritizing his social standing over human life.

Lucy Garnet is a White woman who relies heavily on Black domestic workers to manage her household. She becomes desperate and demanding when Armetta refuses to continue working for her.

May Carol is a local schoolgirl and the daughter of Reed and Lucy Garnet. With her regular caretaker gone, she suffers from severe neglect and bears the brunt of her mother's erratic behavior.

J.D. Bowman is a local man who drives a truck emblazoned with a Confederate flag. He harbors deep racist sentiments and acts aggressively toward anyone who questions him.

Mitchell is one of Reesa's brothers. He participates in family outings and helps relay crucial information overheard in public spaces to his parents.