A gruff farmer at Wolfe Hollow, initially resistant to Lena’s presence, whose character evolves as he becomes central to her survival and the fight against state intrusion.

Silas’s daughter, initially wary of Lena, who grows to become a strong ally within the household and later pursues a career in music reflecting her past.

The younger son in the Wolfe family, known for his loyalty to his father and eagerness to protect their home, whose life is marked by state interference and national service.

An employee at the Eugenics Records Office responsible for compiling genealogical data about mountain families, her work supports state eugenic policies.

A businessman seeking to purchase land from families affected by state action, capitalizing on the resulting instability to make financial gains.

A physician at the Virginia State Colony who evaluates cases for sterilization, framing his decisions as medical interventions aligned with state guidelines.

A social worker who conducts direct home evaluations of mountain families, her reports influence institutional decisions concerning family separation.

The local enforcer of state policy, overseeing evictions and the removal of children, his presence emphasizes the immediate physical execution of state power.