Tom is a nine-year-old city boy who enjoys a comfortable routine of building plastic models and inventing stories with his best friend. He is initially highly anxious about spending the summer on a farm, fearing everything from vicious animals to high trees. Though he views himself as unadaptable, his underlying empathy and vivid imagination slowly open him to new experiences in nature. He struggles to meet the stoic expectations of the adults around him but possesses a quiet courage.

Fred is a large, powerfully built farmer and experienced hunter. He adheres to a quiet, practical lifestyle, swimming in the local pond every evening and efficiently managing the demands of his property. His pragmatic approach to wildlife management directly conflicts with the romanticized views held by city dwellers.

The Black Fox is a rare genetic anomaly with dark fur tipped in white and pale golden eyes. She is wild and fiercely protective of her territory. She possesses high intelligence and uses deceptive tactics to lure perceived threats away from her den. She embodies the untamed beauty of the natural environment.

Petie is a nine-year-old boy living in the city and an aspiring reporter. He spends his free time exchanging humorous, invented newspaper headlines with his friends and enjoying comfortable indoor routines. He shares a strong, easygoing connection with his peers and remains a steady, familiar presence through exchanged letters.

Fran is an emotional, gentle mother who wants to experience a once-in-a-lifetime European vacation with her husband. She cries easily when upset or happy, a trait she shares to some degree with her son. She relies on family ties to ensure her child is cared for during her absence.

Tom's Father is a basketball coach with a firm, pragmatic approach to parenting. He values self-control and often expresses frustration when faced with emotional outbursts or anxiety. He believes that spending time in a rural environment will build character and physical strength in his son.

Millie is a warm, chatty woman who runs the household on her family's farm. Though technically a second cousin, she embraces the title of "Aunt" and continuously tries to make her young guest feel at home. She struggles with the intense heat of the Southern summers, which occasionally makes her irritable when farm predators threaten her poultry.

Hazeline is a recent high school graduate living on her parents' farm. She is fun-loving and highly conscious of her weight, often comparing herself negatively to the thin models in magazines. Despite her personal insecurities, she holds a realistic, unromantic view of the natural world and serves as a direct source of information about how farms operate.

Mikey is a local young man who frequently visits the farm in the evenings. He enjoys casual water fights at the river and driving his car. He maintains their relationship with promises of marriage tied to strict weight-loss conditions, reflecting the rigid beauty standards of his environment.

Happ is a loyal farm dog accustomed to the sounds and scents of the rural environment. He assists in tracking wild animals through the woods and responds to the commands of his owner during hunting excursions.