Nana-Jo is the maternal heart of the novel, serving as Denny’s primary caregiver, mentor, and protector. As a round and static character, her core traits of fierce loyalty, pragmatism, and deep-seated morality remain consistent throughout the story. Having raised Denny since his birth, she provides him with the structure and routines that make his world feel safe, from his daily “training at home” on life skills to her constant reassurances and moral guidance (76). Her identity as a house cleaner for over two decades grounds her in the working class and highlights her tireless work ethic. Her signature pink foam curlers become a motif of The Power of Unconditional Love, representing the comforting domesticity and predictable care she provides. While she is a staunch advocate for following rules and telling the truth, her character is complicated by the secret she keeps about Denny’s parentage, a decision made out of a desire to protect both him and Lydia.

Nana-Jo’s strength is most evident in her moments of crisis. She instigates Denny’s journey toward independence by refusing to solve his problem with the goose Tom Hanks, forcing him to develop his own (albeit flawed) plan. Her confrontation with Tesky is the novel’s climax, revealing the full force of her protective instincts. Her subsequent stroke and physical decline shift the dynamic of her relationship with Denny, allowing him to step into the role of caregiver and demonstrating the full circle of their bond. Her character embodies maternal sacrifice and The Power of Unconditional Love.

Angus Voss functions as the novel’s deuteragonist and is an important foil to his cousin, Denny. He is a round and dynamic character whose cynical, world-weary attitude provides a contrast to Denny’s innocence and literalism. Angus often acts as a translator, explaining the world’s complexities to Denny in blunt, often profane, terms. His character is largely defined by his fierce, brotherly loyalty. Despite his frequent exasperation with Denny, Angus consistently provides support, whether by defending him from bullies, using humor to de-escalate Denny’s anxiety, or acting as his temporary legal guardian.

Angus’s own life is marked by resentment and thwarted ambition, particularly stemming from being fired and blacklisted by Tesky. This shared animosity toward the antagonist strengthens his bond with Denny. While he initially appears to be just a source of comic relief and worldly advice, his character deepens as he navigates his complicated relationships with Elaine and his own past. He keeps secrets and makes questionable choices, such as his “side hustle” growing marijuana, but his core motivation is always the protection of his family. He is the one who explains difficult concepts to Denny and ultimately encourages him to find strength within himself, proving to be an essential pillar of support.

Henry “Hank” Tesky is the novel’s primary antagonist, a flat and static character whose actions are the source of much of the generational trauma affecting the Voss family. As a wealthy and powerful local businessman running for mayor, he is obsessed with his public image, which he carefully curates to appear as a man of “honesty, integrity, and hard work” (195). In reality, his character is defined by narcissism, cruelty, and a predatory nature. His hypocrisy is his defining trait; he publicly supports youth sports while privately grooming and impregnating the 17-year-old Lydia. He then coerces her into silence with a nondisclosure agreement and monthly payments.

Tesky’s antagonism extends to the entire Voss family. He fires Angus for discovering his affair, terminates Nana-Jo’s 24-year employment due to her age, and verbally abuses Denny in a pharmacy, calling him an “idiot” and an “embarrassment.” He demonstrates a complete lack of empathy or accountability, viewing others only in terms of their utility or threat to his reputation. His violent attack on Nana-Jo during their final confrontation, prompted by her threat to expose his past, confirms his willingness to use force to maintain control. His murder sets the novel’s plot in motion, and the gradual revelation of his past crimes transforms him from a victim into a deserving villain, making his death a form of retributive justice.

Lydia Voss is a round and dynamic character whose past actions and emotional distance create a central conflict for Denny. At the start of the novel, the narrator believes that she is his sister and portrays her as selfish and absent. Her initial interactions with Denny are marked by impatience and a failure to understand his needs. Her life is a stark contrast to the small-town existence of Denny and Nana-Jo; as a successful photographer, she travels the world, has a sophisticated career, and appears to prioritize her ambition over her familial responsibilities. Lydia’s decision to hide the truth of Denny’s parentage makes him feel betrayed, and, once revealed, forces him to re-evaluate his entire life.

Lydia’s character arc is one of gradual, difficult change. Prompted by therapy and the unraveling of her marriage, she begins to confront her past. Her return to Woodmont after Denny’s discovery of the truth is awkward and fraught, but it marks the first step toward reconciliation. During her testimony at Denny’s trial, her contempt for Tesky and her fierce, albeit belated, defense of her family reveal a deeper layer of unresolved trauma and anger. She admits Tesky groomed her and that she blackmailed him to pay for Nana-Jo’s surgery, acts that reframe her past silence as a complex survival mechanism. Her final act of giving Denny the puppy, Wilson, is a significant gesture of love, demonstrating a newfound understanding of his emotional needs and her desire to finally assume a nurturing role in his life.

Bridget Klein is Denny’s court-appointed lawyer and a key ally. She is a young, intelligent, and compassionate attorney for whom Denny’s murder case is her “first real case” (15). Her inexperience makes her an underdog, but she compensates with diligence and a genuine belief in Denny’s innocence. She is one of the few figures of authority who treats Denny with respect and patience, working to understand his perspective rather than dismissing it. She hires Dr. Harland to help unravel Denny’s story and consistently advocates for his right to a fair trial, resisting the easier path of pleading guilty due to limited capacity. Her methodical cross-examinations, particularly regarding the blue wool scarf, reveal a sharp legal mind. Ultimately, Bridget represents an ethical and empathetic counterpoint to the cynical and often biased nature of the criminal justice system.

Dr. Harland is the therapist the court appoints to assess Denny. His presence provides the framework for Denny to recount the events leading to his arrest, structuring the novel as a confessional conversation between an anxious patient and a professional trained to listen. Initially skeptical, he grows to understand and trust Denny, becoming a patient mentor whose steady questioning helps Denny articulate memories and feelings he has never before put into words. Dr. Harland ultimately stands among the few professionals in the novel who see Denny as a full person rather than a diagnosis, actively striving against the Mistreatment of People With Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System.

Nori and her son, Theo, represent the concept of a found family. As a single mother running the local laundromat, Nori befriends Denny without prejudice, offering him kindness and companionship in a town that often regards him with suspicion or condescension. Her willingness to accept Denny on his own terms models the kind of uncomplicated acceptance that the novel presents as its ethical ideal. Denny, in turn, helps Theo, who has Tourette’s syndrome, gain confidence at his swim lessons, patiently mentoring the boy through his anxieties in a way that echoes the care Nana-Jo has always shown him. This reciprocal relationship demonstrates Denny’s capacity to positively influence others and build a supportive community outside of his immediate family. This reinforces the novel’s insistence that neurodivergent characters are capable of giving others care rather than only receiving it.