Doug is an eighth-grade student who relocates to the small town of Marysville, New York, after his father loses his job. As the youngest of three boys in an abusive household, he often uses sarcasm and a tough exterior to protect himself from disappointment and physical harm. He works as a Saturday delivery boy for Spicer's Deli and secretly visits the local library to trace John James Audubon's bird drawings.

Doug's father is an alcoholic who moves his family to Marysville to work at a local paper mill. He is a harsh, demanding man who routinely degrades his wife and children through physical violence and verbal insults. He spends much of his time and money drinking with his friend Ernie Eco, showing little regard for his family's basic needs or emotional wellbeing.

Lucas is the oldest brother in the Swieteck family. At the beginning of the story, he is fighting in the Vietnam War. Prior to his deployment, he participated heavily in the family's cycle of physical abuse, frequently targeting his younger brothers. The trauma of war deeply affects his worldview and physical capabilities.

Christopher is the middle child of the Swieteck family. He acts as a bully, maintaining a tough exterior and picking on Doug to deflect from his own mistreatment at home. His reputation as a troublemaker precedes him in Marysville, causing the police to immediately suspect him of local break-ins.

Doug's mother is a patient, quiet woman who finds solace in gardening and baking. She attempts to maintain a peaceful household despite her husband's volatile temper and heavy drinking. She avoids direct confrontation, acting as a passive but deeply loving presence in her sons' lives.

Lil is a straightforward, bicycle-riding tomboy whose father owns Spicer's Deli. She drinks cold sodas with dramatic burps and refuses to be intimidated by Doug's tough-guy act. She hires Doug as the deli's delivery boy and shares his interest in the library, eventually becoming his closest confidant in town.

Mr. Powell is an upbeat, observant employee at the Marysville library. He notices Doug's fascination with the glass-encased John James Audubon book and quietly leaves drawing supplies out for him. He provides gentle instruction and encouragement to help Doug develop his artistic skills and personal confidence.

Mrs. Merriman is a strict librarian in Marysville who wears her glasses on a chain looped around her neck. She frequently admonishes Doug for his behavior and appearance, enforcing the library's rules with little patience for his sarcastic remarks.

Mrs. Windermere is an eccentric older playwright who lives in a large, cluttered mansion on Doug's delivery route. She talks dramatically about answering the call of "the muse" and often tries to avoid paying her deli tabs. She owns original prints from the Audubon collection and hires locals for her stage productions.

Mr. Ferris is a perceptive physical science teacher at Camillo Junior High. He wears a lab coat and glasses on a chain, treating his students with fairness and respect. He is the first teacher in Marysville to separate Doug from his brother Christopher's bad reputation.

Mr. Ballard owns the paper mill where Doug's father works. Despite Doug's father describing him as greedy and manipulative, Mr. Ballard is actually a generous, approachable man who enjoys playing horseshoes by the river and rewarding his employees' families.

Ernie Eco is a coworker and drinking companion of Doug's father. He shares the father's cruel sense of humor and frequently helps him mock the rest of the family. He often drives the men to local bars after their shifts at the paper mill and wears a jacket identical to the one stolen from Doug.

The school gym teacher is a bitter instructor who singles Doug out for public humiliation. He relies on intimidation to control his students and creates a hostile environment on the wrestling mats. He channels his own severe trauma from Vietnam into aggression against his vulnerable students.

Principal Peattie is the intense administrator at Doug's new junior high school. He communicates with fake smiles and frequently suspects Doug of causing trouble, punishing him with detentions and removed lunch periods based purely on his family's reputation.

Miss Cowper is an English teacher who coordinates the County Literacy Unit. When she realizes Doug struggles with basic literacy, she sets up a discreet volunteering system to teach him how to read without embarrassing him in front of his peers.

Mr. Spicer owns and operates Spicer's Deli in Marysville. He employs Doug as his Saturday delivery boy but becomes highly suspicious of him after the store is robbed. He is a protective father to Lil and frequently drives her into the city.

Holling is Doug's best friend from his old neighborhood. He visits Doug right before the Swieteck family leaves for Marysville to offer a significant parting gift.

Joe Pepitone is a major league baseball player for the New York Yankees. He serves as Doug's ultimate idol, having previously given Doug his baseball cap during a school visit.

James is a classmate of Doug's who enjoys playing chess. He comes from a wealthy, artistic household and brings Doug home to listen to his father play the flute.

Mr. Russell is James's father and the First Flutist for the New York Philharmonic. He owns one of the original pages cut from the library's Audubon book and displays it in his home.

Mr. Gregory is a theater producer working on Mrs. Windermere's stage adaptation of *Jane Eyre*. He drives a large car, eats raspberry sherbet, and worries constantly about casting the production correctly.

Mr. Daugherty is a local Marysville policeman who investigates the town's string of hardware store and deli robberies. Outside of his police duties, he employs Doug as a babysitter for his five children.