Sookie is a 60-year-old mother of four living in Alabama. For much of her life, she has deferred to her demanding mother, Lenore, leading her to feel she lacks her own distinct personality or accomplishments. When a mysterious letter arrives revealing hidden details about her early life, she begins looking into her origins, setting off a journey to understand her true identity.

Fritzi is the eldest Jurdabralinski sibling, born to Polish immigrant parents. Fearless and charismatic, she falls in love with flying after a skywriter comes to her family's filling station. She pursues her passion with intense drive, eventually performing as a wingwalker and helping her sisters take over the family business when times get tough.

Lenore is an eccentric, 88-year-old widow who frequently boasts about her Southern heritage. She relies heavily on Sookie to manage her finances and daily affairs but openly criticizes her daughter's life choices. Behind her larger-than-life personality, she harbors old insecurities about her unfulfilled aspirations to become an actress.

Earle is Sookie's husband and a local dentist. He provides a steady, calming presence for Sookie, consistently validating her worth when she feels overshadowed by her mother. Though Lenore initially disapproved of their marriage, Earle remains dedicated to his wife and supports her investigation into her past.

Sophie is the youngest sister in the Jurdabralinski family. Unlike her boisterous older sister Fritzi, she is soft-spoken and heavily involved in volunteering at the local Catholic church. Despite her gentler nature, she shares her family's strong work ethic and steps up to help run the filling station during the war.

Stanislaw is a Polish immigrant who settles in Pulaski, Wisconsin, and establishes "Wink's Phillips 66" filling station. He strongly believes that hard work leads to success and provides a comfortable life for his family until illness forces him to step back from the business.

Linka is Stanislaw's wife and the mother of the Jurdabralinski children. She frequently worries about her daughters, especially the adventurous Fritzi, preferring that they settle into traditional roles rather than taking risks.

Wink is the only son in the Jurdabralinski family. He helps run the filling station before enlisting in the military following the attack on Pearl Harbor, leaving his young wife behind in Wisconsin.

Gertrude is one of the Jurdabralinski sisters. Tough and hardworking, she pitches in to keep the family business running during wartime and supports her older sister Fritzi's initiatives.

Tula is a Jurdabralinski sister who works alongside her siblings at the all-girl filling station. She occasionally struggles with the messy physical labor required by the business.

Billy is a daring skywriter and pilot who runs a traveling flying circus. He introduces Fritzi to aviation, giving her flying lessons and eventually hiring her to perform dangerous wingwalking stunts in his shows.

Buck is Sookie's younger brother. Unlike Sookie, he is largely unaffected by Lenore's overwhelming personality and occasionally advises his sister to ignore their mother's difficult behavior.

Dena is Sookie's former college roommate and a trusted confidante. She frequently serves as a sounding board, offering encouragement and reminding Sookie of her positive qualities when she feels overwhelmed by Lenore's influence.

Dr. Shapiro is a psychiatrist who helps Sookie process her anxiety and her complicated relationship with her mother. He validates Sookie's feelings of confusion and encourages her to establish her own identity.

Dee Dee is Sookie and Earle's daughter. Raised with a strong sense of Simmons family pride, she nevertheless supports her mother unconditionally when Sookie begins questioning her identity and exploring her true roots.

Ce Ce is one of Sookie's twin daughters. She recognizes the heavy emotional labor her mother performs for the family and consistently reassures Sookie of her value.

Le Le is Ce Ce's twin sister and Sookie's daughter. She shares her siblings' supportive attitude toward their mother.

Carter is Sookie and Earle's son. He takes family revelations in stride and maintains a close relationship with his parents.

Marvaleen is a friend of Sookie's in Point Clear. She is enthusiastic about self-help methods and encourages Sookie to express her feelings through exercises like a "Rage Journal."

Alton is Lenore's deceased husband and Sookie's father. He was an army officer who occasionally tried to temper his wife's more extreme schemes, though he usually deferred to her strong will.

Angie is Wink's young wife. She moves in with the Jurdabralinski family after Wink enlists, experiencing the anxieties of being separated from her husband during wartime.

Angel is the sweet-natured nurse employed to help look after the eccentric and demanding Lenore. She represents a much-needed source of stability in the Krackenberry household.

Netta is Sookie and Lenore's neighbor in Alabama. She occasionally alerts Sookie when Lenore comes up with alarming new ideas or political schemes.