Jojo is a thirteen-year-old biracial boy living in Bois Sauvage, Mississippi. He possesses a deep sensitivity to the natural world and can understand the thoughts of animals. Because of his mother's drug addiction and frequent absences, he assumes the primary caretaking responsibilities for his younger sister. He actively seeks to understand what it means to be a man by observing his grandfather.

Leonie is a bartender at the Cold Drink who struggles with a severe drug addiction. She remains deeply traumatized by the racially motivated murder of her older brother years prior. Her intense infatuation with her boyfriend often distracts her from parenting her children. When under the influence of drugs, she regularly sees the spirit of her deceased brother.

Richie is the ghost of a twelve-year-old boy who was imprisoned at Parchman Farm for stealing food to feed his siblings. He died decades ago but remains tethered to the earthly plane, unable to access the afterlife. He follows the family back to Bois Sauvage, hoping to uncover the missing pieces of his own history.

Michael is Leonie's boyfriend and the father of Jojo and Kayla. He recently finished a three-year sentence at Parchman Farm. He previously worked as a welder on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, turning to the production of methamphetamine after losing his job in the explosion. He rejects the overt racism of his parents but struggles to build a stable life.

Pop is Leonie's father and the patriarch of the family in Bois Sauvage. He served time at Parchman Farm as a teenager after being charged with harboring his fugitive brother. He slaughters goats and tends to the property while providing a steadying presence for his grandchildren. He carries the heavy emotional weight of his past experiences in the penitentiary.

Mam is Leonie's mother and the matriarch of the household. She is bedridden with terminal cancer when the story begins. She possesses a deep knowledge of natural remedies and practices voodoo, passing elements of her spiritual worldview down to her grandson. She maintains an accepting attitude toward her daughter despite Leonie's obvious flaws.

Kayla is Leonie and Michael's three-year-old daughter. She becomes severely sick during the car trip to the state penitentiary. She displays a stubborn and fussy temperament typical of a toddler, which easily frustrates her mother. She relies almost entirely on her older brother for comfort and basic needs.

Given is Leonie's deceased older brother. He died during his senior year of high school after winning a hunting bet against a white peer. He was a talented football player who fiercely protected his sister from neighborhood bullies. He appears as a silent spirit whenever Leonie uses drugs.

Misty is Leonie's friend and coworker at the Cold Drink. She accompanies the family on their drive north because her own boyfriend is also incarcerated at Parchman. She frequently behaves selfishly on the trip, complaining about the inconveniences caused by the children.

Big Joseph is Michael's father and a former local sheriff. He harbors intense racial prejudice and openly despises his son's relationship with a Black woman. He uses intimidation and violence to keep Leonie and the children away from his property.

Maggie is Michael's mother. She offers a superficially polite welcome when the family arrives at her home but fails to effectively intervene in the conflicts that immediately erupt. She maintains a passive role in the household dynamics.

Stag is Pop's older brother. He engaged in reckless behavior during his youth and got into a physical altercation with a white man. This incident ultimately led to both him and Pop being sentenced to labor at Parchman Farm.

Al is the lawyer representing Michael and Misty's boyfriend. He hosts Leonie, Misty, and the children overnight at his home during their road trip. He participates in drug use with the two women while Jojo tends to his sick sister.

Hogjaw is a large, physically imposing white inmate at Parchman Farm during Pop's incarceration. The warden assigns him to supervise the prison dogs. He acts as a clear predatory threat to the younger, more vulnerable prisoners.

Blue is an unstable inmate at Parchman Farm. He commits a violent assault against a female prisoner and decides to escape the penitentiary. He forces a younger prisoner to accompany him on the run, setting off a dangerous chain of events.

Kinnie Wagner is a white inmate at Parchman Farm with a long history of prison escapes. The guards task him with training the tracking dogs. He notices Pop's natural affinity for animals and actively requests his transfer to work as a dog runner.

Sunshine Woman is a prostitute who occasionally visits the inmates at Parchman Farm. She delivers news about violent events in the outside world and encourages the prisoners to move away from the South after their release.

The Police Officer is a law enforcement official who conducts a routine traffic stop on Leonie's car during their return trip. He operates with high suspicion, rapidly escalating the encounter by drawing his weapon when he searches the vehicle.

Carlotta is an acquaintance of Misty who lives in a rundown house. She invites Leonie and Misty inside while her husband works in the shed. She reacts with sudden anger and physical force when her young son damages a television set.

Fred is Carlotta's husband. He spends his time in a shed on their property manufacturing methamphetamine.