Del is an observant and highly curious girl growing up on a silver fox farm in the rural, working-class area of Flats Road before eventually moving into the town of Jubilee. She reads everything she can find, from obscure tabloids to thick encyclopedias, constantly searching for a deeper understanding of the adult world. Questioning social norms, religious practices, and traditional gender expectations, she views her community with a critical and analytical eye.

Ada is Del's mother, a reserved but highly opinionated woman who disdains her working-class surroundings. She seeks intellectual and social elevation, eventually taking a job as a traveling encyclopedia salesperson and renting a home in town. She actively rejects traditional female domesticity in favor of correspondence courses and literature discussion groups, demonstrating her ambition.

Naomi is Del's close school friend who holds entirely different priorities regarding her future. She feels oppressed by books and instead focuses her attention on makeup, clothes, and adhering to the expected social milestones of marriage and motherhood. She eventually takes an office job at the local creamery, creating a social distance between herself and Del's academic pursuits.

Art works at the local radio station and possesses a smooth, dark chocolate broadcasting voice. A veteran of World War II who served in Italy, he charismatically shares selected stories of his time overseas. He presents a respectable outward persona to the adults in town but privately skirts the lines of acceptable behavior with the younger girls in his vicinity.

Uncle Benny is an eccentric family friend who works for Del's father on the fox farm. Despite his nickname, he is not biologically related to anyone in the area. His cluttered house serves as a playground for the Jordan children, who read the sensationalized, bizarre tabloids he collects.

Owen is Del's younger brother, who spends his early childhood playing on the Flats Road. He experiences anxiety over religious concepts and life-and-death situations, openly worrying about the fate of the family's aging dog, Major.

Del's father owns and operates a silver fox farm, breeding animals for their fur on a nine-acre plot. He maintains a pragmatic approach to rural life and animal husbandry, staying on the farm when his wife and children spend the school year in town.

Uncle Craig is the town clerk for Fairmile Township, taking great pride in his civic duties and formal appearance. He refuses to wear anything other than a tie and waistcoat. He spends his free hours meticulously compiling the historical records of Wawanash County and tracking his extensive family tree.

Aunt Elspeth is one of Del's great-aunts. She wears perfectly starched dresses and pearl brooches, placing high value on social etiquette. She looks down on Ada's unconventional job choices and readily mocks neighbors who fail to display refined table manners.

Aunt Grace is Del's great-aunt who lives in Jenkin's Bend. She shares her sister Elspeth's conservative values and strict adherence to traditional gender roles. She openly mocks a local farmer for having icing on his mustache, viewing herself as socially superior to the rural workers.

Fern is a boarder who rents a room in Ada's house to help with the rent. She shares stories of her past, including a complicated history that resulted in her leaving a music conservatory. She maintains an active social presence in the household.

Jerry is a highly intelligent, scientifically minded classmate of Del's. Viewed as a nerd by the rest of the school, he shares an exclusive, banter-filled vocabulary with Del. Their relationship allows them to explore their mutual intelligence and curiosity without adhering to the typical social pressures of Jubilee's youth.

Garnet is a young man from the country who previously spent time in jail for a drunken brawl. He attends the Baptist Young People's Society and pursues a relationship with Del, carving the names of his romantic conquests into his porch.

Madeleine is a seventeen-year-old single mother who agrees to work as a maid and marry Uncle Benny. She quickly earns a reputation on Flats Road for her quick temper and erratic behavior.

Mary Agnes is Del's older cousin. Due to past trauma and developmental delays, she is unable to perform certain independent tasks like going to the store alone. She displays a cautious nature, notably warning Del away from a dead cow by the river.

Miss Farris is an enthusiastic schoolteacher in Jubilee who organizes the annual spring operetta. She brings a sense of ceremony and artistic expression to the local school system, capturing the attention and imagination of her students.

Bill is Ada's older brother who travels from the United States to visit her. He complains about the small, self-service stores in Canada and reminds Ada of their painful, impoverished childhood together.

Frank is a schoolboy who earns the role of the Pied Piper in the school operetta. He becomes the target of Del's first serious crush, though he eventually leaves school early to take a job hand-delivering laundry for the local dry cleaner.

Bobby is a young man living in Jubilee whose family history contains significant tragedy. He holds polite but mundane conversations with the townspeople, hiding the deeper mental struggles that led to his hospitalization.

Marion is Bobby's sister. Her tragic and complex family history makes her a frequent subject of town gossip and eventually serves as the inspiration for Del's early attempts at writing fiction.

Naomi's father is a strict, deeply religious man who attempts to control his daughter's behavior. He enforces discipline by reading Bible verses aloud and physically punishing Naomi when she disobeys his curfews.