Stephen is a 15-year-old salvager who has spent his life roaming the devastated country. Raised under the harsh survivalist rules of his grandfather, he struggles to balance ruthless self-interest with his natural human empathy. He puts his copy of *The Lord of the Rings* at the top of his pack to signal a break from his grandfather's strict ideology. When his father suffers a severe injury, Stephen must reluctantly accept help from the residents of Settler's Landing.

Jenny is a Chinese American teenager and the adopted daughter of Marcus and Violet Green. She experiences intense prejudice from the residents of Settler's Landing due to the widespread anti-Chinese sentiment following the global war and plague. Rebellious and standoffish, she uses her artistic abilities to cope with her isolation and seeks an escape from the community's artificial normality. She chose the surname Tan for herself to reconnect with her heritage.

Caleb is the wealthy, authoritarian patriarch of the Henry family. Because his family survived the plague on their original estate, he acts as though he still owns the golf-course-turned-farmland that makes up Settler's Landing. He uses aggressive religious rhetoric and fearmongering to exert control over the community.

Will is Caleb Henry's cruel, headstrong teenage son. He inherits his father's arrogant belief that their family dictates the rules of Settler's Landing. He holds an intense grudge against Stephen and frequently bullies him and Jenny at the local school.

The enslavers are a violent group of ex-military men who profit by kidnapping and selling human beings. They possess valuable vehicles and weapons, which they use to terrorize scattered survivors. Their sheer cruelty forces Stephen and his father into a desperate confrontation.

Stephen's father is a kind and romantic man who travels the post-Collapse ruins with his son. He constantly pushes back against the cruel survivalist mindset instilled by his own abusive father. He refuses to strip the gold ring from his father's corpse, showing a clinging respect for family. His desire to help vulnerable people heavily influences Stephen's moral development but also places them both in severe danger.

Stephen's grandfather is a harsh, abusive man whose presence haunts his family's memories. He believed that all pleasure was self-indulgent and that ruthlessness was the only valid way to survive in the ruined world. Though dead before the story begins, his toxic worldview and history of physical violence leave deep psychological scars on his son and grandson.

Marcus is a balding, compact man who holds implicit leadership within Settler's Landing. He strongly desires safety and stability for his family, which sometimes makes him complacent in the face of the Henry family's aggressive tactics. He acts as a father figure, taking Stephen into his home and allowing him to work in the harvest to earn his keep.

Violet is a direct, practical woman and the only actual medical doctor in Settler's Landing. She balances Marcus's caution with her commitment to treating injuries regardless of the political cost. She bathes and clothes Stephen, giving him a rare glimpse of maternal care.

Jackson is a heavyset teen with a round face and curly hair. Despite witnessing a horrific massacre as a younger child, he maintains a gentle and empathetic personality. He bonds with Stephen over a shared love of books, offering the lonely salvager his first true peer friendship.

Mr. Tuttle is the strict but encouraging teacher at Settler's Landing. He firmly believes in the necessity of literature and education for human survival. Rather than punishing Stephen for his lack of formal schooling, he privately supplies him with history textbooks to further his learning.

Derrick is a hyperactive, talkative teenager at Settler's Landing. He playfully recruits Stephen to join his baseball team, covering for Stephen's lack of athletic skill by spreading rumors about his background. He represents the complex mix of ordinary adolescent energy and post-disaster trauma.

Martin is one of Jackson's friends in Settler's Landing. Like the other local teens, he attempts to maintain normal routines like playing sports and attending school while quietly carrying the psychological weight of surviving the Collapse.

Sam is a kind but wary Black man who lives in Settler's Landing. He works alongside Marcus in the community's agricultural fields and helps explain the settlement's history as a former wealthy gated community to Stephen.

Carrie is a teenage girl living in Settler's Landing. She leads the youth group to a hidden hangout where they swap homemade alcohol and stories of the Collapse, providing Stephen with a space to see their shared vulnerability.

Stan is a tall man with a revolver and an eyepatch who serves as the leader of Fort Leonard, a neighboring settlement. Despite the deep suspicion and fear the residents of Settler's Landing hold toward his people, Stan proves capable of logic and a desire for peace.

Claudia is a shy young girl who attends the log cabin school in Settler's Landing. She finds quiet solace in reading stories like *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* with Stephen's gentle encouragement.

Paolo is a reliable donkey that travels with Stephen and his father. The animal helps carry the heavy scraps of metal and glass the pair scavenge to trade for essential supplies.

Wind is a horse that Jenny barters for using scavenged items from ruined stores. The horse allows Jenny to ride beyond the borders of Settler's Landing and safely explore the wider world.