Dora is a 17-year-old girl born with black hair and a caul over her face. As the first female born to the Rare family in generations, she is viewed with suspicion by the superstitious townspeople. She spends her free time reading romantic novels and daydreaming about her future. Her curiosity draws her to the local midwife, offering her a path outside the traditional expectations for young women in her community.

Miss Marie Babineau is an elderly Cajun midwife who traveled to Nova Scotia from Louisiana. She lives in a small house near the woods where she grows herbs, relies on the Willow Book for medicinal recipes, and cares for a local white doe. While widely respected for her success in catching babies, she is viewed with suspicion by conservative town members due to her mystical practices.

Dr. Gilbert Thomas is an ambitious obstetrician who establishes the modern Canning Maternity Home nearby. He relies on modern instruments, chloroform, and insurance policies to attract patients away from local midwives. He approaches medicine with cold authority and views female complaints as psychological rather than physical.

Archer Bigelow is a wealthy bachelor approaching thirty years old. He claims conscientious objector status during the war, staying home while other young men deploy. Charming but heavily self-centered, he spends his time drinking rum, pursuing women, and designing elaborate schemes to mass-produce new inventions.

Hart Bigelow is Archer's older brother and a worker in the local shipyards. Missing three fingers on his left hand from an industrial accident, he is prevented from joining the military. He is pragmatic, quiet, and consistently steps in to perform household labor or diffuse tense situations for his neighbors.

Simone Bigelow is the wealthiest resident in town, managing an estate funded by past inheritances. Often referred to by the town as the Widow Bigelow, she lost two husbands shortly after marrying them. She dictates strict social rules and uses her considerable financial resources to influence the marital choices of her sons.

Bertine Tupper is married to the local blacksmith and is classified socially as a "woman from away" because she moved to Scots Bay for marriage. She is sharply honest, intensely loyal to the midwives, and organizes a knitting group that provides an exclusive space for women to talk freely.

Mabel Thorpe is another resident who married into the town from elsewhere. She trusts traditional birthing practices and maintains a deeply positive outlook on motherhood. She acts as a comforting presence within the women's social circle.

Sadie Loomer is a pragmatic, outspoken mother who moved to Scots Bay. She frankly discusses matters of intimacy and contraception with her friends. Despite her husband's insistence on purchasing modern medical insurance, she prefers the hands-on care of the local midwives.

Ginny Jessup is Laird Jessup's second wife and the newest arrival to the tight-knit community. She becomes one of the first women to give birth using the hospital's heavily sedated methods. She subsequently struggles with isolation and the physical demands of childcare in a rural setting.

Judah Rare is a master shipbuilder operating in an industry that is slowly becoming obsolete. He provides a stable home for his large family but struggles to understand his maturing daughter, relying on scientific journals to enforce strict behavioral rules in his household.

Lottie Rare is a pragmatic matriarch managing a home filled entirely with men, save for her one daughter. She balances traditional propriety with practical survival, frequently advising Dora to secure her future by whatever limited means are available in Scots Bay.

Charlie Rare is Dora's older brother by a single year. Prevented by age from enlisting alongside his older siblings, he seeks purpose by traveling to Boston to assist with disaster relief. He ultimately finds employment and a new life in the city.

Maxine Cabott is an independent, affluent suffragette living in the city. She uses her wealth to support a household of artists, writers, and political activists. She fundamentally challenges traditional gender roles and actively protests against organizations that seek to censor literature or restrict women's rights.

Aunt Fran is the wealthy head of the local White Rose Temperance Society. She places deep faith in institutional authority, loudly supporting modern doctors while condemning traditional midwives. Despite her strict public morality, she occasionally relies on the same local healers she criticizes to solve private indiscretions.

Precious is Aunt Fran's heavily sheltered daughter. She focuses intently on maintaining a pristine appearance and elevating her social status among older teenagers. She frequently seeks out her older cousin to ask nervous questions about physical maturation and romance.