Ellis is a 26-year-old reporter working at the Philadelphia Examiner. He dreams of covering hard news rather than the Society pages he currently handles. He is ambitious and hardworking but struggles with a strained relationship with his father following a childhood family tragedy.

Lily is a 22-year-old secretary who aspires to be a newspaper reporter like her idol Nellie Bly. She lives in a boardinghouse for unwed mothers during the week to support her son. She possesses strong moral convictions and a sharp reporter's intuition.

Ruby is an eight-and-a-half-year-old girl living in poverty with her mother and brother. She is observant and resourceful, capable of caring for herself and her younger brother during difficult times. Her physical resemblance to a deceased child drastically alters her life.

Geraldine is a widow suffering from a severe illness. Facing extreme poverty and a grim medical prognosis, she makes an unthinkable choice regarding her two children. She insists on keeping her children together and carries immense shame over her decisions.

Sylvia is a wealthy woman in her thirties living in Hoboken, New Jersey. She suffers from severe depression following the death of her daughter Victoria in a car crash. Her unresolved grief drives her to extreme and unstable behaviors regarding her new family members.

Jim is Ellis's father and a former coal miner. He harbors deep emotional scars from the death of his infant son. His past negative experiences with journalists make him highly critical of Ellis's chosen profession.

Clayton is a confident, chain-smoking reporter at the Philadelphia Examiner with a coveted byline. He frequently chases down stories about mobsters and serves as both a professional role model and a personal rival for Ellis.

Howard Trimble is the editor in chief of the Examiner, having inherited the newspaper from his father. He micromanages the newsroom while wearing bowties and keeping his glasses low on his nose. He enforces traditional gender roles, initially resisting Lily's ambitions.

Alfred is a successful banker who recently relocated his family from California to New Jersey. He tries to manage his wife's deteriorating mental state and grief, though he often lacks control over his own household's decisions.

Max is the head of an Italian mob family with significant political influence. He controls aspects of his family members' lives with absolute authority and expects total loyalty from his subordinates and relatives.

Calvin is Geraldine's six-year-old son. He is separated from his mother and sister, experiencing mistreatment at the hands of various caretakers. His situation highlights the severe vulnerability of children during the Depression.

Samuel is Lily's young son. He lives with Lily's parents in northern Delaware during the week. His existence motivates Lily's empathy for the Dillard children and drives her career ambitions.

Myrna is Ellis's mother and a traditional homemaker. She acts as a peacemaker between her husband and son, quietly supporting Ellis's career aspirations while managing her husband's emotional distance.

Walker is Ellis's new editor in New York City. He expects high performance to justify his reporters' salaries and cares deeply about the newspaper's public perception.

Dutch is an established reporter in New York who initially plays a practical joke on Ellis. He later provides valuable contacts and tips for Ellis's investigations.

Lou is the managing editor at the Examiner and Ellis's direct supervisor. He strictly enforces deadlines and physical media requirements.

Harriet is Lily's mother and a formidable baker. She supports her daughter unconditionally, caring for Samuel during the workweek and hoping Lily finds romantic happiness.

Claire is the sixteen-year-old housekeeper for the Millstone family. She attempts to care for Ruby and secretly worries about Calvin's placement.

Mr. Lowell directs an orphanage equipped with heavy locks. He strictly adheres to bureaucratic rules and shows little flexibility regarding the children in his care.

Mildred is a staff member at the Warren County Home for Children. She experiences internal conflict between her employment duties and her compassion for the children.

Bob is a farmer in Sussex County who acquires children to perform hard labor. He guards his property aggressively with a shotgun.

Ada is Bob's wife. She displays visible shame regarding their treatment of Calvin but lacks the autonomy to challenge her husband's decisions.

Victoria is the late daughter of the Millstone family. Her death in a car accident acts as the catalyst for her parents' subsequent decisions.