Gabriel is a thoughtful 12-year-old boy living a comfortable life in the town of Birdsong, South Carolina, in 1946. Raised to treat others equally, he possesses a strong conscience that frequently clashes with the segregated reality of his community. He loves reading detective stories and dreams of becoming a fighter pilot, demonstrating a natural curiosity about the people around him.

Meriwether is a Black man living in Birdsong with an uncanny mechanical aptitude and a humble, steady demeanor. Seeking employment to support his family, he faces the daily prejudices of the Jim Crow South with caution and resilience. He becomes an important figure in Gabriel's life, teaching the boy the value of looking at situations through the eyes of others.

Jake owns the only automobile repair garage in Birdsong and operates a gas station that welcomes Black customers. Having attended college in Ohio, he holds progressive values that he tries to pass down to his son. As a small business owner, he constantly weighs his desire to do the right thing against the practical need to protect his family and livelihood.

Lucas is a bitter mechanic employed at the Haberlin garage. Known for his hostile attitude and poor personal hygiene, he holds deep racial prejudices and fiercely resents the idea of an integrated workplace. He actively attempts to intimidate those he views as beneath him and is rumored to have connections to violent local organizations.

Abigail is Meriwether and Phoebe's perceptive 10-year-old daughter. She loves reading books like The Magical Land of Noom and aspires to become a writer when she grows up. Growing up in a segregated society, she possesses a sobering awareness of the systemic dangers surrounding her family.

Patrick is Gabriel's best friend, a boy who loves swimming and dreams of joining the Navy. He casually mimics the prejudiced language common among the white adults in Birdsong. His friendship with Gabriel provides him with a steady model for unlearning these discriminatory behaviors.

Agatha is Gabriel's mother, a caring woman who bakes pineapple upside-down cakes and worries intensely about her family's physical and social safety. She shares her husband's equitable values but often fears the repercussions of challenging the local community.

Phoebe is Meriwether's wife and Abigail's mother. She moved her family to Birdsong to pursue her calling as a choir director for the local Baptist church. She is highly protective of her husband and cautious about his interactions with the white community.

Betty is an affluent white resident of Birdsong known for her reckless driving habits. She demonstrates a performative form of politeness, loudly praising God for Gabriel's safety while entirely ignoring the Black man who actually rescued the boy.

Earl is Jake Haberlin's brother and a decorated fighter pilot. He openly shares thrilling stories from his military service, drawing widespread admiration from his family and establishing a model of heroism for his nephew.

Auntie Rita is a deeply spiritual older relative of the Haberlins. She firmly believes in divine intervention, sensing that Gabriel's near-accident has forged a permanent, meaningful bond between him and his rescuer.

Tink is Gabriel's 16-year-old cousin from Charleston. Aspiring to become a professional photographer, she is acutely aware of racial injustices and actively points out discriminatory practices to her younger cousin.

Helene is Tink's best friend visiting from New York City. She actively protests local segregation laws by purposefully drinking from water fountains reserved for Black people, laughing off the reprimands of prejudiced locals.

Johnnie is a Black woman working as an employee in the Waldrop household in Charleston. She carries deep grief for her son, a serviceman who was killed in action but never received formal recognition for his heroism.

Polly is Gabriel's cousin in Charleston who hosts a party for returning veterans. She exhibits standard prejudices of the era, speaking sharply to her Black employees and prioritizing social appearances.

Teddy is Polly's husband and Tink's father. He travels from Charleston to Birdsong to participate in family celebrations.

Mr. Summerlin owns the local drugstore and soda fountain in Birdsong. Unlike many white business owners in town, he treats everyone with basic courtesy and occasionally hires local Black residents for repair work.

Rosie is a polite schoolmate of Gabriel's, considered by him to be one of the nicest girls at school. Her friendly inquiries about his well-being routinely cause Gabriel to blush.

Sheriff Monk is the chief law enforcement officer in Birdsong. Operating within a heavily segregated legal system, he frequently demonstrates bias and is viewed with deep distrust by the Black community.

Doc Riley is the town physician in Birdsong. He is familiar with the medical histories of the townspeople and offers honest, objective assessments of his patients' conditions.

Pastor Honeywell leads the local Baptist church where Phoebe Hunter serves as choir director. He provides vital community support and protection for his parishioners during times of crisis.

Miss Duval is the organist at the Haberlins' church and Abigail's piano teacher. She actively participates in the small-town gossip network but also takes concrete steps to report dangers to the authorities.

Matthew is a local high school student who works at the Haberlin family's gas station, handling the steady flow of customers.

Emma is Rosie Riley's best friend. She is seen enjoying a screening of a Sherlock Holmes film without adult supervision.

Deputy Carroway serves under Sheriff Monk in the Birdsong police force, enforcing the laws of the segregated town.