Known as Mother Bhaer to her students, she co-runs the Plumfield school alongside her husband. She acts as a matriarch to a diverse group of underprivileged and wealthy boys alike, preferring a family-style environment over a rigid factory-style institution. She holds deep empathy for troubled youth, using her own childhood experiences to guide her compassionate teaching methods.

A German professor who operates the Plumfield estate with his wife. He oversees the primary academic and moral instruction of the young men, favoring outdoor exploration and practical experience over strict book learning. He frequently guides the children's ethical development through allegorical stories and non-violent, psychological lessons rather than corporal punishment.

A sickly former street musician who finds sanctuary at Plumfield after the death of his father and subsequent abandonment. Initially far behind his peers academically, he slowly regains his physical health by working in his garden plot and playing his violin for the community. His early trauma makes him prone to telling lies out of fear, a habit he works hard to overcome.

A rough, neglected fourteen-year-old boy who struggles to fit into the peaceful structure of Plumfield. He initially introduces the younger boys to forbidden activities like fighting, cigars, and gambling. Despite his unruly exterior, he possesses a deep, intuitive connection to nature and animals, which the Bhaers use to reach his softer side.

The intelligent, bookish nephew of Mrs. Jo. His parents enroll him at Plumfield to toughen him up and balance his strong intellectual imagination with healthy outdoor activity. He acts as a moral compass among his peers, taking his studies seriously and feeling a deep sense of responsibility toward his family.

Demi's twin sister and Mrs. Jo's niece. She completely embraces traditional feminine activities of her era, taking immense joy in sewing, tending to her dolls, and growing delicate flowers. She operates a miniature working kitchen given to her by Mrs. Jo, frequently hosting dinner parties for the boys as a reward for their good behavior.

A sweet-natured but highly mischievous student who is constantly getting into accidents due to his own pranks. He is one of the wealthiest boys at Plumfield due to his successful egg-selling business, which he partners with Nat to maintain.

Also known as Annie Harding, she is a lively, headstrong girl invited to Plumfield to provide companionship for Daisy. She firmly rejects traditional domestic roles, preferring to run wild with the boys and explore the outdoors. She channels her boundless energy into studying medicinal herbs and practicing early first aid.

Mrs. Jo's brother-in-law, an enthusiastic and generous sponsor of the school. He actively encourages the boys' intellectual pursuits, supplying them with natural specimens, encyclopedias, and a dedicated space for a museum to display their collections.

Uncle Teddy and Aunt Amy's young daughter, affectionately called Goldilocks by the students. Her delicate, peaceful nature exerts a powerful civilizing influence over the rougher boys, who voluntarily moderate their loud behavior and practice gentle manners around her.

The older of Mrs. Jo and Mr. Bhaer's two biological sons. Despite his youth and small stature, he is highly talkative and constantly tries to keep up with the older boys in their outdoor adventures and gardening efforts.

The youngest son of the Bhaers. He is highly affectionate and forms an unlikely, tender bond with the rebellious newcomer, Dan, serving as one of the few calming influences on the older boy.

Mr. Bhaer's sixteen-year-old German nephew. As the oldest student at Plumfield, he acts as a responsible, secondary authority figure, treating others with respect and stepping in to help during emergencies.

Mr. Bhaer's adventurous nephew, known around the school as the Commodore. He dreams of becoming a sailor and applies nautical terminology to his daily life, frequently organizing boat races on the nearby river.

The husband of Meg and father to Demi and Daisy. He lives a quiet, unpretentious life running a store, serving as the ultimate example of an honest businessman and an ethically grounded family man for the Plumfield boys to admire.

Mrs. Jo's sister and the mother of Demi and Daisy. She relies on the Plumfield school to provide her children with a well-rounded environment that balances their domestic and intellectual habits.

A clever student whose strong focus on business and profit sometimes overrides his ethical judgment. Mr. Bhaer works consistently to teach him the importance of honesty in his trading and auctioning endeavors.

A somewhat clumsy and naive boy at Plumfield. He grows beans in his garden plot and occasionally falls under the influence of stronger personalities, leading him to participate in poor behavior.

A young student recovering from a nervous breakdown caused by a previous school's overly rigorous academic program. At Plumfield, he is protected from stress and allowed to learn at a completely gentle pace.

A cheerful boy who lives with a physical humpback. He possesses an excellent sense of humor and spends his outdoor time patiently cultivating parsnips and carrots with his friend Dolly.

Also known as Adolphus, he is a dutiful student who manages a stutter. He works closely alongside Dick in their shared agricultural efforts.

Nicknamed Stuffy by the other students, he is a sallow, somewhat lazy boy highly motivated by eating. He successfully grows large melons in his garden but prefers to hoard them rather than share with the community.

A dedicated naturalist who studies local plant and animal life in the forests surrounding the estate. He recognizes Dan's keen eye for nature and introduces the boy to formal botanical and biological study.

The practical property manager and groundskeeper at Plumfield. A veteran of the Civil War, he entertains the boys with stories of battle and oversees the large animals on the estate.

The cook for the Plumfield estate. She manages the busy kitchen that feeds the large household and occasionally performs secret acts of charity, like hanging fruit on Billy's failed garden tree so he has a harvest.

A wild, unbroken colt belonging to Uncle Teddy. The horse's rebellious spirit strongly mirrors Dan's personality, allowing the two to form a deep, instinctual bond during the taming process.

Mrs. Jo's sister and Uncle Teddy's wife. She observes the profound changes in the Plumfield boys and plans to trust the Bhaers with her own daughter's education when the time comes.

Mrs. Jo's father, who visits the estate to see the results of his daughter's educational methods. He firmly believes in raising children with honesty, courage, and faith, values he successfully passed down to his own family.

Mrs. Jo's mother. Her own gentle, empathetic parenting style serves as the exact blueprint Mrs. Jo uses to manage the difficult boys at Plumfield.