Ada is a sixteen-year-old girl returning to the Natchez Trace after running away with an older man. Raised by an abusive father, she has learned to make herself small and unassuming to survive. The discovery of her pregnancy and an encounter with Matilda force her to confront her past and seek agency over her own life.

Matilda is a seventeen-year-old Black girl and the daughter of a sharecropper. She is fiercely protective of her family and acutely aware of the racial and social injustices in her community. Harboring dreams of moving to Cleveland, she uses her intelligence and writing to cope with the heavy burdens placed upon her.

Virgil is Ada's brutal and sadistic father, a fur trapper who struggles with severe alcoholism. He takes malicious pleasure in controlling and terrorizing those weaker than himself. His volatile presence casts a dark shadow over the swamp and dictates the early actions of both Ada and Matilda.

Frank is a recently graduated lawyer and the nephew of Curtis Creedle. Behind his handsome, privileged exterior lies a deeply corrupt and manipulative nature. He exploits the bootlegging operation for his own gain and leverages his social standing to threaten those who cross his path.

Dalton is Matilda's loving father, an honest and hardworking sharecropper. Driven by the dream of owning his own land, he becomes entangled in a dangerous bootlegging scheme to clear his debts. He fiercely loves his family and tries to shield them from the harsh realities of their societal position.

Teensy is Matilda's mother, a gentle woman who has endured multiple pregnancy losses. To cope with the traumas of her life, she intentionally focuses on small, immediate moments of joy and creates a protective bubble of happiness for her family.

Sylvie is Ada's deceased mother. While alive, she appeared meek to avoid Virgil's wrath, but she harbored a quiet strength and secretly planned to escape. She taught Ada to sew, providing her daughter with a rare source of joy and future independence.

Gertie is a local midwife and a pillar of the swamp community. She possesses deep knowledge of herbal medicine and human nature, offering care to both Black and white women. She acts as a surrogate grandmother figure and fierce protector of those under her care.

Curtis is a wealthy white landowner who runs a bootlegging operation on his farm. He uses sharecropper debt to force men like Dalton Patterson into storing and transporting his illegal liquor, thereby shifting the legal risk away from himself.

Peggy is Curtis Creedle's daughter. Shielded by her immense wealth and social privilege, she is impulsive, egocentric, and largely oblivious to the struggles of those around her, including her Black neighbors and her destitute acquaintance, Ada.

Leon is Peggy's brother and Curtis Creedle's son. Unlike the rest of his family, he is decent, level-headed, and possesses a strong moral compass. He respects Matilda's intelligence and is intentionally kept in the dark regarding his father's illegal operations.

Stella Mae is a sweet, intellectually disabled ten-year-old girl who lives with Gertie Tuttle. Her vulnerability makes her a frequent target for cruel men like Virgil Morgan and Frank Bowers, prompting Matilda to fiercely protect her.

Jesse is a carnival musician whom Ada met through Peggy Creedle. When Ada poured out the story of her abusive home life, he offered her a way out, prompting her to run away with him, though she ultimately returns to the swamp.

Rainy is Matilda's close friend whose family relocated to Cleveland, Ohio during the Great Migration. Her letters represent a lifeline to the outside world and a symbol of freedom and better opportunities for Matilda.

Henry Moser is Rainy's great-uncle, a newspaper editor in Cleveland. He plays a crucial role in Matilda's life by recognizing the value of her writing, publishing her accounts of Southern injustices, and giving her a renewed sense of purpose.

Buddy is a local Black man who is violently targeted when attempting to purchase land for his family. His tragic assault and subsequent fate deeply impact Matilda, compelling her to document the racial violence in her community.

Cassie is Buddy's wife. After she falls ill, Buddy attempts to keep her out of the mud, leading to a violent confrontation with a white man. Her suffering becomes a profound moral weight on Matilda's conscience.

Flora is the friendly owner of the local dry goods store. Recognizing Ada's exceptional sewing skills, she offers her a fair wage to make baby clothes, providing Ada with her first taste of financial independence and hope.

Mr. Lewis is a kind undertaker in Jackson who provides safe harbor for Matilda. He acts as a crucial ally when she faces danger, helping her survive the perilous racial prejudice of Mississippi.

Leeta is Matilda's friend and roommate in Jackson who works alongside her at the movie theater. When her boyfriend experiences a horrific act of violence, she seeks Matilda's help, further inspiring Matilda's writing.

Alvert is Leeta's boyfriend who becomes the victim of a brutal racially motivated attack. His survival and immense suffering provide Matilda with a critical story to share with the Northern press.