A skinny red-haired girl with bright green eyes who loves reading classic adventure novels and earns the nickname "Worm." She embarks on a journey with Max, seeking to confront her past and find her strength.

A tall, ominous figure in black who is Rachel's stepfather and the central antagonist. His violent behavior towards Rachel and her mother creates the central conflict of the story.

A retired schoolteacher with eccentric style who travels in a colorful converted school bus, the Prairie Schooner. He provides guidance and a temporary safe haven for Max and Rachel during their travels.

A witty and optimistic man with long scraggly hair who helps Max and Rachel on their journey by saving them from dangers and providing them with food and companionship.

Max's supportive grandparents who have raised him since his mother died. They anchor Max's life and believe in his innocence, offering family support throughout the story.

A woman worn down by fear with dark bruises under her eyes, who is intimidated by her husband, the Undertaker. She is pivotal in inciting the plot through her struggles with domestic abuse.

A pair of con artists who briefly join the group aboard the Prairie Schooner, but later try to turn Max in to the police for reward money, prompting a shift in the story's direction.