Lucy is an 18-year-old Anishinaabe woman and a survivor of the state foster care system. Hypervigilant and fiercely independent, she views the world through a lens of survival and relies on aliases and physical transformations to hide. She carries deep trauma from her past, leaving her distrustful of authority figures and hesitant to connect with her newly discovered heritage.

Daunis is an Anishinaabe woman deeply connected to her community in Sault Ste. Marie. She carries her own history of trauma and loss, which fuels her fierce protectiveness over Lucy. Educated and resourceful, she acts as a cultural mentor who introduces Lucy to Ojibwe traditions and a broader understanding of kinship.

Jamie is an attorney and former foster child who founded Raven Air Associates to help Indigenous youth reconnect with their communities. He is driven by his own past and a sense of duty, particularly his failure to save Lily. He approaches situations with patience and seeks to offer Lucy both legal protection and an understanding of her rights under the Indian Child Welfare Act.

Bridget is Lucy's former adoptive mother. Initially presenting herself as a devout and caring figure, her demeanor shifts drastically following the death of Lucy's father. She drains Lucy's college fund and ultimately abandons her to the state foster care system.

Mister Hoppy is the patriarch of a rural foster home in Northern Michigan. He presents a facade of wholesome farm life that conceals a highly exploitative environment for the vulnerable teenagers placed in his care.

Missus Hoppy manages Hoppy Farm alongside her husband. She uses the comforting symbols of domesticity, like baked goods and communal meals, to mask the sinister nature of her foster home. She enforces a culture of silence among the children.

Mr. Sterling runs a devoutly Christian foster home. He uses religious piety as a shield. He maintains a rigid and hypocritical household where he protects his family's reputation at the expense of the foster children in his care.

Mrs. Sterling is the matriarch of the Sterling family. She upholds the devout and strict religious atmosphere of the household while turning a blind eye to the toxic dynamics within her home.

Steven is the biological son of the Sterling family. Despite his popularity at school, he is deeply abusive. He utilizes his parents' protection and the household's strict religious cover to prey on the vulnerable girls in his home.

Luke is Lucy's single father, who raises her until his death from colorectal cancer when she is twelve. He is deeply protective of Lucy but makes the damaging decision to hide her Anishinaabe heritage, claiming instead that her mother was Italian. He leaves her a Seiko watch and a tradition of gifting books.

Devery is a hardened survivor of the foster care system who bonds with Lucy during their placement with Miss Lonnie. She operates with a cynical, pragmatic worldview and advises Lucy to constantly plan for escape and manipulate caregivers. Her tough exterior hides a desperate need for stability and family.

Miss Lonnie is a kind and self-sufficient woman who provides a brief period of stability for Lucy and Devery. She teaches practical survival and housekeeping skills. She treats the girls with respect and understands the difficult situations they have fled.

Abe is a wise Odawa elder who befriends Luke Smith in a cancer support group. Following Luke's death, Abe becomes a grounding force for Lucy. He introduces her to the Anishinaabe practice of offering semaa (tobacco) and provides her first authentic connection to her cultural heritage.

Lily is Lucy's deceased older half-sister. Though she died before the events of the novel, her memory heavily influences the actions of both Daunis and Jamie. She serves as the biological and emotional link that brings Lucy into their care.

Nancy is a coworker of Lucy's who celebrates her six-month work anniversary. She is caught in the diner explosion alongside Lucy, surviving the blast but suffering severe injuries.

Stacy is the young biological daughter of the Sterlings. She bonds with Lucy over books and shared reading time. She lives in a state of vulnerability due to the hidden abuses occurring within her family's home.

Maggie is an Anishinaabe woman and the biological mother of both Lucy and Lily. She is disconnected from Lucy's early life due to Luke's decisions, but remains a vital piece of the puzzle regarding Lucy's heritage.

Boyd is an older foster teenager living at Hoppy Farm. He integrates himself into the corrupt operations of the Hoppy household and views the other foster children through a transactional lens. He seeks to benefit from the farm's exploitative environment.

Diego is a foster teenager placed at Hoppy Farm. He forms a close connection with Lucy during their time in the isolated, oppressive environment of the farm before he suddenly disappears.

Tim is the owner of the Pleasant Diner where Lucy works. He provides her with a reliable job and a small sense of community before the bombing shatters the establishment.

Granny June is Lucy's great-grandmother, an Anishinaabe elder who survived the residential school system. Her history embodies the generational trauma carried by her family and community.