Stella is an 11-year-old African American girl living in the segregated town of Bumblebee, North Carolina, during the Great Depression. She is highly observant and finds solace in the night sky. Though she feels she lacks natural talent for writing, she secretly practices late at night, driven by a deep desire to document the truth of the world around her.

Mama provides a structured, warm, and well-run household for her family. She is deeply knowledgeable about the natural world, foraging in the woods for medicinal herbs and remedies. She serves as a patient mentor to her daughter, encouraging Stella's writing by comparing it to strawberries that take time to ripen.

Papa is a quiet, hardworking, and unassuming leader in the Bumblebee community. He works tirelessly to provide for his family and wrestles with his desire to combat injustice. Despite the obvious dangers, he begins to actively consider registering to vote to make his voice heard.

Tony is the 11-year-old son of the local doctor who treats the town's Black families. He is an energetic, cheerful boy who secretly runs on the track at the white school at night to practice. He shares a strong mutual trust with Stella, offering her encouragement and companionship.

Dr. Packard is the wealthy white physician in Bumblebee who strictly treats only white patients. He is an imposing, prideful figure who carries a deep-seated hatred for the Black community. He is widely suspected by Stella and others of being the leader of the local Ku Klux Klan group.

Paulette is Dr. Packard's privileged young daughter who attends the well-funded Mountain View School. Despite her fine clothes and pocket money, she harbors deep unhappiness due to her father's harsh demeanor and the abusive atmosphere in her home.

Spoon Man is a charismatic traveling salesman who brings trinkets, stories, and news from the broader region to the rural communities he visits. His arrival prompts a joyful neighborhood gathering, and his storytelling inspires Stella's writing.

JoJo is Stella's eight-year-old brother. He is innocent and easily frightened by the escalating tensions in Bumblebee, relying heavily on his parents and older sister for comfort, protection, and reassurance when mysterious or dangerous events occur.

Mrs. Grayson is the sole teacher at Riverside School, educating 35 students from first to eleventh grade in a single room. She is a dedicated mentor who works to make her classroom a safe haven, pushing her students to express themselves clearly through writing.

Pastor Patton leads the New Hope Church and serves as a moral anchor for the Black community in Bumblebee. He challenges his congregation to stand up against fear, famously declaring his intention to register to vote despite the inherent risks.

Mr. Spencer is a neighbor to the Mills family, the father of 13 children, and an employee at the local sawmill. He is determined to exercise his rights as a citizen and joins his friends in a dangerous bid to register to vote.

The bustling, hardworking mother of 13 children. Despite the chaos of her large household, she remains deeply attentive to the safety and well-being of the neighborhood youth.

Hazel is a first-grade student from the large Spencer family. Overwhelmed by her crowded house, she constantly seeks out small, quiet hiding spaces to find a moment of peace.

The dedicated physician for the Black families in Bumblebee. Despite facing systemic racism and humiliation during his medical training, he remains a highly skilled and compassionate doctor for his community.

The proprietor of the local candy store. She strives to maintain a peaceful, equitable environment in her shop, ensuring that every child, regardless of race, receives a silver-wrapped piece of chocolate.

Stella's best friend and classmate. Carolyn shares the daily struggles of school and chores, occasionally bringing over catalogs that spark conversations about the racial disparities they observe.

A local white man who freely hurls racial slurs and uses physical violence to intimidate the Black residents of Bumblebee. He actively participates in the harassment of Tony and Stella outside the general store.

The foreman of the local sawmill. When he discovers that his Black employees are attempting to register to vote, he uses his economic power to punish them, demonstrating the systemic oppression in the town.

The official registrar in Spindale. He uses every bureaucratic trick available, from fake deadlines to literacy tests, to dissuade Black citizens from registering to vote, reflecting the institutional racism of the era.

A lanky, red-faced law enforcement officer in Bumblebee. He initially attempts to physically block the Black men from entering the polling place, serving as an intimidating hurdle to their civil rights.