Twelve-year-old Rifka is a Jewish girl escaping military persecution with her parents and brothers. She possesses a remarkable ear for languages, speaking Russian and Yiddish fluently, and quickly picking up others as she travels. She records her journey across Europe in the margins of a volume of Alexander Pushkin poetry, framing her experiences as imaginary letters to her cousin. Despite facing severe illnesses and detentions that threaten her immigration status, she maintains a strong sense of compassion for those around her.

Saul is Rifka's sixteen-year-old older brother. He frequently bickers with Rifka, teasing her and pulling her hair during their early travels. However, when the rest of the family falls severely ill with typhus in Poland, Saul remains healthy and works in an orchard to provide food and shelter for his sister. He holds strong prejudices against Russians due to the severe persecution their Jewish family faced in Berdichev.

Ilya is a young Russian peasant who is held at the contagious disease hospital on Ellis Island. He refuses to eat because he wishes to return home to Russia rather than enter the United States. Despite belonging to the social class that actively persecuted Rifka's family in Europe, he captures her sympathy and becomes a fixture by her side.

Pieter is a young, playful sailor working on the transatlantic ship that Rifka takes to America. He provides a brief, joyful distraction from the heavy burdens of Rifka's journey, making her laugh with his jokes and dancing. He openly admires Rifka's bravery and language skills, treating her with great affection.

Tovah is Rifka's cousin who remains behind in Berdichev, Ukraine. She has a physical deformity due to a back problem, but Rifka admires her deeply for her intelligence and talent. Before the family fled, Tovah gave Rifka a treasured volume of Alexander Pushkin's poetry, which Rifka uses as a secret diary to document her travels.

Rifka's mother leaves her home behind at a moment's notice to keep her sons safe from the Russian army. She manages to pack one treasured possession—a pair of brass candlesticks—which holds deep sentimental value for her. She attempts to remain cheerful and steady for her family despite enduring theft, illness, and long separations.

Rifka's father makes the difficult decision to flee Russia to save his sons from the military. He is determined to reunite his entire family with his three eldest sons already living in the United States. During their difficult journey, he makes agonizing choices to ensure the family's overall survival, giving his prayer shawl to Rifka when they are forced to separate.

Nathan is Rifka's older brother who deserts his forced labor detail in the Russian army to warn his family that Saul is about to be drafted. His desertion puts the entire family at immediate risk of death if discovered, prompting their sudden flight from the country in the middle of the night.

Uncle Avrum is Tovah's father and a wealthy factory owner in Berdichev. He uses his local influence and stages a fake break-in at his factory to draw the attention of the Russian soldiers, allowing Rifka and her family to sneak away safely on the departing train.

Gaston is a kind citizen living in Antwerp, Belgium. He and his wife offer Rifka a comfortable room in their home while she stays behind in Europe to receive medical treatment for her ringworm.

Marie is Gaston's wife and a resident of Antwerp. She helps care for Rifka while the young girl's family travels ahead to America, offering her praise and encouragement as Rifka quickly learns to speak Flemish.

Sister Katrina is a nun in Antwerp who diligently applies treatments to Rifka's scalp to cure her ringworm. Recognizing the young girl's isolation, she encourages Rifka to step outside and explore the city, offering her prayers to recite when the urge to scratch her head becomes overwhelming.

Nurse Bowen is a staff member at the detention hospital on Ellis Island. She takes a liking to Rifka and allows the young girl to help out around the ward, laughing off Rifka's fears about wasting paper and encouraging her efforts to assist other patients.

Doctor Askin is a medical professional who interacts with Rifka during her detention on Ellis Island. He observes her natural compassion and her quick mastery of English, noting that she has an excellent temperament for medical work.

Mr. Fargate is an immigration official at Ellis Island. He is responsible for formally evaluating the cases of detainees to determine if they are legally and socially fit to enter the United States, bearing the ultimate authority over their futures.

Isaac is one of Rifka's three eldest brothers. He moved to the United States years before the rest of the family and waits for them to arrive safely in New York.

Reuben is another of Rifka's older brothers who emigrated to the United States before the events of the novel begin. He helps secure passage for his family members.

Asher is the third of Rifka's oldest brothers. Living in New York, he works alongside Isaac and Reuben to purchase steamship tickets for the rest of his family to cross the Atlantic.

Gizelle is a young girl whom Rifka befriends while living in Antwerp. She provides Rifka with much-needed peer companionship and a sense of normalcy during her prolonged medical separation from her family.