Molly is a sixth-grade Mohawk girl who awakens one morning to find her parents gone without a trace. Placed in the custody of a strange old man she does not know, she relies on her physical bravery, quick wit, and the traditional stories her parents taught her to survive. She actively pays attention to her intuition and "aware dreams" to investigate the mystery of her new living situation.

The mysterious man who claims to be Molly's great-uncle is an old, stooped figure with big teeth and sharp-nailed hands that look like claws. He gains custody of Molly after her parents vanish, locking her in her room at night and offering her heavy food. He bears a disturbing resemblance to a flesh-eating monster from a Mohawk folktale.

Ms. Shabbas is Molly's compassionate sixth-grade teacher, affectionately nicknamed "Ms. Showbiz" by students for her habit of singing Broadway tunes in class. She is observant enough to notice Molly's distress and tries to help her find safety, though her efforts are repeatedly blocked by bureaucratic authorities.

Mrs. Rudder is the impatient school counselor at Molly's school. She refuses to take Molly's legitimate fears seriously, attributing the girl's anxiety to an overactive imagination and stress rather than investigating the strange home environment.

Molly's father is a calm and patient Mohawk man raised on the Akwesasne Reserve in Canada. Before his sudden disappearance at the start of the story, he instills a deep respect for Mohawk customs in his daughter, teaching her to trust her feelings and pay attention to messages received in dreams.

Molly's mother is a supportive and practical woman who vanishes alongside her husband without a trace. She previously provided Molly with comfort regarding her physical appearance and taught her to think logically before running away from problems.

Mr. Wintergreen is a representative from Child Welfare who handles Molly's placement. He conducts a brief, inattentive visit to the old man's house and fails to notice anything amiss, leaving Molly in a frightening situation.

The rabbit is a talking animal that appears in Molly's aware dreams. Functioning as a swift-footed messenger, it provides Molly with crucial advice about her real-world problems and connects her to the traditional wisdom of the Mohawk people.

A staff member at Molly's school who evaluates her case. Like the other administrative adults, this individual relies strictly on mainstream medical explanations, suggesting Molly's fears stem from a chemical imbalance.