Nobody is a young boy raised by the ghostly inhabitants of an old cemetery after his family is murdered. Granted the Freedom of the Graveyard, he learns to see in the dark and pass through solid objects. He possesses a deep curiosity about the outside world but must remain within the cemetery gates for his own safety.

Silas is the tall, dark-clad caretaker of the cemetery. As the only resident who can easily leave the grounds and interact with the living world, he provides Nobody with food, clothing, and guidance. He maintains a calm, authoritative demeanor and sleeps in the chapel steeple during the day.

Jack Frost is an assassin employed by a secretive organization. He tracks his targets using a highly sensitive sense of smell and remains determined to finish his assignment when the youngest member of a targeted family escapes. He operates methodically and reports to an older group of men.

Scarlett is a bright, inquisitive young girl whose family frequently relocates. She forms a close bond with Nobody during sunny afternoons in the graveyard, initially believing him to be an imaginary friend. She serves as Nobody's primary connection to the world of living children.

Liza is a teenage ghost buried in the unconsecrated ground of Potter's Field. She died during a witch hunt centuries prior and befriends Nobody when he ventures into her isolated corner of the cemetery. She deeply appreciates his efforts to find her a proper gravestone.

Betsy is a kindly ghost who has been dead for over 250 years. She discovers the orphaned toddler and immediately volunteers to adopt him. She sings old nursery rhymes to the boy and provides him with essential maternal warmth.

Master Owens is a former cabinetmaker and Betsy's husband. He supports his wife's decision to adopt the orphaned child and serves as a formal father figure. He enforces the cemetery rules and administers discipline when necessary.

Miss Lupescu is a strict, grey-haired woman who arrives to serve as Nobody's temporary guardian. She assigns him tedious lessons about different types of creatures and feeds him unappetizing meals. Her severe exterior hides a deeply protective nature.

The Lady on the Grey is a revered figure among the deceased. All ghosts show her immense respect, and her brief intervention convinces the graveyard community to adopt the orphaned boy. She later participates in a rare dance with the living.

Abanazer Bolger is the proprietor of a junk and antique shop in the city. He immediately recognizes the extreme value of an ancient brooch brought in by Nobody and locks the boy in a storeroom to steal it.

Tom Hustings is a large, aggressive associate of Abanazer Bolger. He argues with his business partner over the stolen brooch and the potential reward for capturing the boy.

Nick is a large school student who steals money and items from his classmates. He relies on physical intimidation to extract valuables but secretly harbors a deep fear of spiders.

Maureen is a pale, thin student who orchestrates a school bullying ring. She directs Nick's physical intimidation and later targets Nobody when he interferes with their operation.

Josiah is a baronet and the original founder of the cemetery. He acts as a political leader among the graveyard's residents and initially opposes the adoption of a living child for practical reasons.

Caius is a Roman ghost who has resided in the cemetery for two thousand years. He acts as a senior voice during community debates and provides Nobody with historical information.

Mother Slaughter is an elderly ghost who wears a faded burial bonnet. She voices early practical concerns about housing a living child but eventually accepts Nobody into the community.

The Sleer is a strange, snake-like entity residing in the cemetery's oldest crypt. It acts as an eternal guardian for a collection of ancient artifacts, waiting for its master to return.

The Indigo Man is a terrifying painted image that appears in a hidden crypt. Covered in purple tattoos and wearing a necklace of teeth, he manifests to frighten away intruders from the altar.

Jack Dandy is a silver-haired representative of the Convocation. He impatiently questions the assassin about his failure to secure the escaped child ten years prior.

Mrs. Perkins is a university professor and Scarlett's mother. She assumes her daughter's accounts of a boy in the graveyard are stories about an imaginary friend.

Letitia Barrows is a spinster ghost who serves as one of Nobody's many ghostly tutors. She teaches him grammar and composition while warning him to stay away from the unconsecrated grounds.

Mr. Pennyworth is a ghost tasked with teaching Nobody how to disappear and move unseen. He frequently expresses frustration at the boy's slow progress in mastering ghostly abilities.

Amabella is a ghost residing in a nearby church cemetery outside Nobody's usual home. She observes Nobody's confrontation with local bullies and offers him advice on haunting techniques.

Thackeray is a hot-tempered teenage ghost who died of apoplexy. He remains angry in death and physically strikes Nobody during an argument over a copy of Robinson Crusoe.

The Duke of Westminster is a small, mummified creature who speaks like a pirate. He wears a backwards black suit and participates in kidnapping Nobody, attempting to force the boy to join the scavengers in the desert city of Ghulheim.

Kandar is a winged mummy who carries a pig and fights alongside the Honour Guard. He travels far below the surface to battle an ancient organization of assassins in a coordinated strike.