Tookie is an Ojibwe woman who survives a traumatic, decade-long prison sentence by reading voraciously. After her early release, she marries the tribal police officer who initially arrested her and secures a fulfilling job at an independent Minneapolis bookstore. She highly values her peaceful, suburban existence but struggles with lingering guilt and anxiety when a spirit begins occupying her workplace.

In life, she was a dedicated but annoying white customer who aggressively collected Indigenous American literature and insisted she had Indigenous heritage. Following her death, her spirit remains trapped in the bookstore. She repeatedly attempts to communicate with the staff, particularly focusing her unsettling attention on Tookie.

Pollux is a former tribal police officer who left law enforcement to build designer wooden furniture. He marries Tookie after her release from prison, offering her a secure and loving home. He maintains strong ties to his Indigenous roots through community ceremonies but holds complex, conflicting feelings regarding his past career as a police officer.

Jackie is Tookie’s former seventh-grade reservation teacher. She works as a manager at Birchbark Books in Minneapolis and helps Tookie secure a job there after prison. She acts as a grounded, pragmatic mentor who offers direct advice without sugarcoating the truth.

Penstemon, who goes by Pen, is a young Indigenous American woman employed at the bookstore. She is spiritual, highly creative, and decorates the inside of a confessional booth the store purchased. She also senses the presence of the ghostly entity occupying the shop, making her a vital ally.

Asema is a dedicated bookseller at Birchbark Books who thoroughly researches Indigenous history and human remains. She applies her analytical skills to uncover the truth behind historical artifacts and the strange spiritual occurrences happening at the store.

Hetta is Pollux’s niece, whom Tookie considers an adopted daughter. She struggles with substance reliance and harbors resentments that frequently cause friction within the household. Her unexpected arrival with a newborn introduces entirely new dynamics and responsibilities to the family.

Louise is an author and the anxious but generous owner of Birchbark Books. She establishes the store as a physical haven for independent literature and Indigenous history. She relies heavily on her staff and works to keep the business viable during city-wide lockdowns and social unrest.