Agnès is a young teenager growing up in the impoverished, post-World War II village of Saint Rémy. Recognized for her polite demeanor and good penmanship, she acts as the physical writer for the morbid stories invented by her best friend. As her published work brings unexpected fame, she struggles to define her identity independent of her rural background and her codependent friendship.

Fabienne is a brilliant, creative, and sometimes cruel 13-year-old girl who lives on a struggling farm in Saint Rémy. Having lost her mother and sister, she is expected to manage the household chores for the men in her family, leaving her little room for formal education. She possesses a natural talent for storytelling and creates engaging tales, but she firmly insists that her friend take all the credit for them.

Monsieur Devaux is the postmaster of Saint Rémy, a man in his sixties who possesses money, education, and connections in Paris. Lonely after his wife's recent death, he agrees to help edit and facilitate the publication of the girls' manuscript. He becomes intrigued by the girls, but his attention crosses professional boundaries as he provides them with alcohol and makes inappropriate propositions.

Mrs. Townsend is an Englishwoman who runs Woodsway, a boarding school for future debutantes. A failed writer herself, she positions herself as a manager and offers her target a free year of education. She views her new student as a pet project, hoping to transform a rural French girl into a refined society woman while controlling her literary output.

Jean is a former French soldier who spent three years as a prisoner in a German labor camp. He returns to Saint Rémy physically broken and severely traumatized by the war. His slow, painful decline requires constant care from his parents and serves as a physical reminder of the country's recent devastation.

Monsieur Chastain is a Parisian publisher who recognizes the commercial potential in the morbid stories submitted from the countryside. He understands that marketing a young girl from an impoverished, rural village will generate significant fame and profit for his publishing house. He orchestrates the press tour to capitalize on this unique background.

Meaker is a veteran of World War I and the sole male employee at Woodsway. He works as the groundskeeper and occasional driver for the school. He maintains a quiet, distant demeanor and views his gardening strictly as a means of survival and employment rather than a passion.

Catalina is a 17-year-old student at the Woodsway boarding school in England. She is preparing to enter high society, with aspirations to marry and become a mother. She views her rural French classmate with a mixture of curiosity and condescension, treating her past as a scary novelty.

Monsieur Bazin is a well-known Parisian photographer hired by the publishing company. He poses his subject alongside farm animals, wash lines, and rural backgrounds to heavily emphasize a peasant lifestyle for the Parisian audience.

Mademoiselle Boverat is an assistant at the Parisian publishing house. She acts as a guide and chaperone, purchasing new clothes and hair accessories to ensure the author looks presentable and fits the desired public image during the press tour.

Earl is an American man who provides a stable, quiet life for his wife in the Pennsylvania countryside. Unable to have children of his own, he lives peacefully alongside the farm's geese, far removed from the literary fame and wartime trauma of Europe.

Agnès's mother is a farmer in Saint Rémy who spends her days tending to the land and caring for her dying son. The demands of poverty and post-war reconstruction leave her little time to supervise her daughter's activities.

Agnès's father is an impoverished farmer struggling to rebuild his life after the war. He is intimidated by the wealthy publishers who visit from Paris but ultimately allows his daughter to travel to support the family.

Fabienne's father is a widower raising a family of men with only one daughter. He struggles with alcoholism and expects Fabienne to manage the cooking and household duties, severely limiting her opportunities for education or personal growth.