Silas is a twelve-year-old boy living in Boneville, Ohio. He possesses the unique ability to see and speak to ghosts, a secret he keeps hidden after a teacher punished him for mentioning them. Following the kidnapping of his father, he sets out into the dark woods on a dangerous rescue mission. He is intelligent, deeply loyal to his family, and carries a distinctive tree-shaped scar on his back from a lightning strike.

Martin, affectionately called Pa by his son, is a skilled bootmaker and talented amateur photographer in Boneville. He is a devoted, protective father who creates clever inventions to delight his family. His peaceful life is disrupted when outlaws appear at his home to kidnap him, accusing him of being an infamous counterfeiter named Mac Boat.

Mittenwool is a sixteen-year-old ghost who has been Silas's constant companion since infancy. Unable to remember who he was in life or how he is connected to Silas, he acts as an older sibling and invisible protector. He is cautious, responsible, and deeply wary of the physical dangers Silas faces in the woods.

Enoch Farmer is a gruff, practical US Marshal tracking outlaws through the dense Ohio wilderness. He encounters Silas in the woods and offers to help the boy survive the elements and locate his kidnapped father, provided Silas promises not to mention ghosts. Though abrasive, his survival skills and tracking experience make him a vital ally.

Roscoe Ollerenshaw is the ruthless leader of a counterfeiting ring operating from a hidden cave. Greedy and commanding, he seeks Martin's expertise in chemical printing processes to create fake currency. He directs a gang of outlaws and demonstrates little regard for human life or the law in pursuit of wealth.

Elsa is Silas's deceased mother, who passed away during childbirth. Despite her physical absence, her memory strongly influences both Martin and Silas. She comes from a wealthy Philadelphia family but chooses a life with the working-class Martin out of love, leaving behind a prized violin that Silas decides to carry with him into the woods.

Pony is a swift, unusually intuitive horse that initially belongs to the outlaws before forming a bond with Silas. Demonstrating an almost human degree of emotional intelligence, he acts as a guide through the dense woods, offering Silas physical comfort and uncanny direction.

Rufe Jones is one of the outlaws working under Roscoe Ollerenshaw. He serves as an enforcer for the counterfeiting ring, directly participating in Martin's kidnapping. He is driven by greed and readily follows Ollerenshaw's criminal directives without moral hesitation.

Seb is an eighteen-year-old twin who, alongside his brother Eben, works for the counterfeiting ring. Originally hoping to travel to California to open a candy store, he was persuaded to join the outlaws when his funds ran out. He is somewhat naive and less hardened than the older gang members.

Eben is Seb's eighteen-year-old twin brother and a member of Ollerenshaw's counterfeiting gang. Like his brother, his involvement in the criminal enterprise stems more from financial desperation and manipulation than genuine malice.

Desimonde Chalfont is the newly appointed sheriff of Rosasharon. He is smart, capable, and patient, displaying genuine concern for Silas's well-being alongside his duty to capture outlaws. He comes from an abolitionist family and carries the heavy grief of losing his sister to violence.

Jack Beautyman is a deputy in Rosasharon. He is initially skeptical of Silas's story and presents a tough, somewhat dismissive exterior. Despite his rough demeanor, he is a highly capable lawman willing to face dangerous outlaws in the line of duty.

Matilda is Sheriff Chalfont's deceased sister, who appears to Silas as a ghost bearing a prominent chest wound. She died prior to the events of the story and lingers near her brother in hopes of delivering a seemingly trivial but deeply emotional apology regarding a family memory.

Jenny is the kind and supportive wife of Sheriff Chalfont. She is welcoming to Silas when he is brought into their orbit, providing a sense of maternal warmth and stability amidst the chaos of the criminal investigation.