Vivian is a 91-year-old wealthy retiree living in Spruce Harbor, Maine. Born Niamh Power in Ireland, she immigrated to New York City before losing her family in an apartment fire at age nine. She subsequently rode an orphan train to the Midwest, enduring poverty and hardship in various foster homes. She now lives a highly structured, solitary life, keeping her distance from others while holding onto an attic full of belongings from her past.

Molly is a 17-year-old high school student of Penobscot Indian descent. She currently lives in her twelfth foster home with the Thibodeau family. After attempting to steal a copy of *Jane Eyre* from the library, she accepts a community service assignment organizing Vivian's attic to avoid juvenile detention. She maintains an intimidating Goth appearance to keep people at bay, expecting that anyone she gets close to will eventually abandon her.

Dutchy is a 12-year-old boy whose real name is Hans. Born to German parents in New York City, he was forced onto the streets by an abusive father and survived by working as a shoe-shine boy. He boards the orphan train with Niamh and Carmine, holding a pragmatic and cynical view of his future. He fully expects to be chosen by a farming family strictly for hard labor.

Jack is Molly's high school boyfriend and the son of Vivian's housekeeper. Raised by a single mother after his father moved back to the Dominican Republic, he maintains an optimistic outlook on life despite his own family challenges. He arranges Molly's community service job at Vivian's house, trying to help her stay out of the juvenile court system.

Mr. Sorenson is a local Minnesota representative for the Children's Aid Society. He handles the logistics of placing orphan train riders with local families and occasionally checks on their welfare. He functions more as an administrator than a protector, often choosing to smooth over conflicts rather than address the dangerous living conditions the children face.

Terry is Jack's mother and works as the housekeeper for Vivian Daly. A former high school homecoming queen, she now works hard to provide a stable life for her son. She holds a deep mistrust of Molly, worrying that the teenager's presence will jeopardize her employment and negatively influence Jack.

Dina is Molly's current foster mother in Spruce Harbor. She resents Molly's presence in her home and frequently threatens to send her back to the foster system. She acts hostile toward Molly's vegetarianism, purposefully cooking meat for dinner, and maintains a judgmental attitude toward others in her community.

Ralph is Molly's foster father and Dina's husband. He defers to his wife regarding household rules and shows little genuine interest in Molly's personal well-being. He views fostering primarily as a financial arrangement rather than an emotional commitment to a child.

Maisie is Niamh's baby sister, born in the United States after the Power family emigrated from Ireland. At eighteen months old, she survives the tragic apartment fire that kills her father and brothers. Niamh loses contact with her during the chaotic aftermath when they are separated by authorities.

Dominick is one of Niamh's twin brothers. He lives with the family in New York City after they emigrate from County Galway. He perishes in the apartment fire that destroys the family.

James is Niamh's other twin brother. Along with his brother Dominick, he struggles with the family's poverty in New York City. He is killed instantly in the apartment fire that orphans Niamh.

Carmine is a fourteen-month-old infant placed on the orphan train. Niamh takes responsibility for holding and comforting him during the long train ride from New York to the Midwest. He is quickly adopted by a couple at the first stop in Minnesota.

Mrs. Byrne is a woman in Albans, Minnesota, who selects Niamh from the orphan train and renames her Dorothy. She runs an at-home sewing business and immediately puts the young girl to work. She enforces strict rules, refuses to send Dorothy to school, and locks the refrigerator between meals.

Gerald Grote is a destitute man in Hemingford County who takes Dorothy in as a helper for his unkempt, growing family. He lives in a house lacking basic necessities and forces his family to live off the land. He harbors deep anti-government sentiments and subjects Dorothy to highly inappropriate and predatory behavior.

Wilma is Gerald's wife, a neglectful mother who sleeps most of the day and ignores her children's basic needs. She blames Dorothy when the household contracts head lice and ultimately throws the young girl out into the winter snow.

Miss Larsen is a compassionate rural schoolteacher who provides Dorothy with one of her few sources of comfort during her time with the Grote family. She encourages Dorothy's love of reading and offers crucial protection when Dorothy arrives at the schoolhouse seeking shelter from the winter cold.

Mrs. Murphy is an Irish boardinghouse landlady who temporarily takes Dorothy in when the young girl has nowhere else to go. She nurses Dorothy through pneumonia and provides clean clothing. Her presence reminds the girl of the warmth she once felt with her grandmother back in Ireland.

Mrs. Nielsen is the co-owner of a prosperous local store in Hemingford who takes Dorothy in after the loss of her own daughter. She offers Dorothy a safe room and involves her in a local quilting circle. She eventually asks the young girl to adopt her deceased daughter's name.

Lori is Molly's social worker who monitors her progress through the Maine foster system. She tracks Molly's community service hours and pushes her to formulate a plan for her future. She encourages Molly to think about college as she approaches her eighteenth birthday.