Polly, an 11-year-old girl, is one of the three primary protagonists and changes noticeably over the course of her story. She begins the story with a sharp tongue and blunt honesty. Polly doesn’t usually mean to be cruel, but she speaks whatever “pop[s] into her head without a thought about whether the words she sa[ys] hurt others” (8). This habit leaves her socially isolated from many village children, though she maintains a genuine, if contentious, friendship with the nature-loving Wickstaff twins. Feeling ostracized, Polly develops a yearning for the social status represented by the popular and wealthy Agatha Benthorn and Eunice Ingersoll. Her wish—for people to pay attention to her and for Agatha to invite her for tea—stems from her insecurity and her mistaken belief that acceptance by Agatha and Eunice will make her happier.

The consequence of her wish is a magical condition that forces her to croak like a bullfrog whenever she complains or speaks unkindly. This targets Polly’s habit of speaking without thinking. The magic forces Polly to pause before she speaks, and she begins using polite, considerate words because she wants to avoid the humiliating croaking. In doing so, she discovers that kindness changes how other children respond to her and begins to see Kindness as a Measure of Character; her classmates begin to include her in their games and seek her help. Her most important revelation occurs at Agatha’s tea party, where she realizes that the girls she once idolized are unkind, narrow-minded, and boring. She rejects their values and returns to the friendships and outdoor life that already suit her better. Polly’s journey illustrates The Difference Between What People Want and What They Need, as her wish for popularity leads her to recognize that she already has friendship, acceptance, and a stronger sense of herself.

Rowena, a 15-year-old teenager, is a protagonist whose story follows her growing understanding of the difference between romantic fantasy and genuine affection. She begins the story as a girl “in love with love itself” (8), as her romantic fantasies are focused entirely on Henry Piper, a charming, smooth-talking traveling salesman. She’s captivated by his charm and his stories of faraway cities, interpreting his shallow flattery as proof that he returns her feelings. Her romantic daydreams make her overlook the kindness and reliability of the farmhand Sam Waxman, whom she dismisses as a “bumpkin.”

Driven by a desire to make her romantic fantasy a reality, Rowena wishes for Henry to “put down roots here in Coven Tree and never leave again” (85). The wish’s literal fulfillment—Henry grows roots, becomes immobile, and slowly transforms into a sycamore tree—forces Rowena to confront the reality of the man she idolized. Unable to hide behind his charm, Henry reveals himself to be selfish, manipulative, and dishonest. This experience forces Rowena to reconsider the romantic image she had created of him. She takes responsibility for her wish and, with Sam’s steadfast help, cares for the transformed Henry. In the process, she comes to appreciate Sam’s quiet loyalty, kindness, and dependability. By the end of the story, her affections have shifted from Henry to Sam, showing that she now values honesty, kindness, and trust over empty charm. Her story illustrates The Difference Between What People Want and What They Need, showing that her dream of a storybook romance prevented her from recognizing the kindness and dependability of someone who truly cared for her.

Sixteen-year-old Adam is the third protagonist, a hardworking young man whose story explores the consequences of seeking an easy solution to a difficult problem. His family’s farm is the driest in the county, and he spends much of his time hauling water from Spider Crick. This constant work leaves him weary and embarrassed, especially when he endures the taunts of villagers. Adam’s wish is practical and driven by his desire to help his family. He wishes for “water all over this farm” because he hopes to end the daily struggle of hauling water and improve life on the farm (136).

The wish backfires when uncontrollable geysers of water erupt across the farm, flooding the barn, damaging the house, and forcing the family to leave their home. This disaster teaches Adam that quick fixes can have unexpected consequences. The crisis, however, also brings his family closer and reveals his father’s patience. As Adam struggles to deal with the flooding, he discovers that he has a “dowsing gift.” This talent provides a lasting way to help his family and other farmers, giving him a role that depends on his own abilities rather than magic. Adam’s story illustrates The Difference Between What People Want and What They Need, as his wish for an easier solution ultimately leads him to recognize the value of honing his skills.

Stew Meat is the story’s narrator and plays an important role in resolving the children’s problems. As the owner of the Coven Tree General Store, he knows many of the people in Coven Tree and is well placed to tell their stories, making him well suited to tell the story because he “knows the whole thing” (4). Throughout the novel, he remains practical, observant, and skeptical. Initially, Stew Meat is doubtful of Blinn’s claims, viewing him as a “crafty humbug,” but he purchases a wish card out of curiosity. Unlike Polly, Rowena, and Adam, he has no immediate reason to use his wish and simply stores the card in his cash register.

This patience becomes important when Polly, Rowena, and Adam converge at his store, each desperate for a solution to their magical predicament. Although each child wants him to solve a different problem, Stew Meat realizes that a single wish can undo all three problems at once. In the story’s climax, he uses his one wish to cancel the wishes of all three children instead of making one for himself. This selfless decision resolves the book’s central conflicts and helps the children return to their normal lives. His actions illustrate The Power of Helping Others, showing that he puts the needs of others before his own.

Sam is the 17-year-old hired boy on the Jervis farm and offers a clear contrast to the flashy salesman, Henry Piper. Although Sam doesn’t change much during the story, he plays an important role in Rowena’s development. He’s tall, gangly, hardworking, practical, and observant. From the outset, he sees through Henry’s insincere charm, mocking his romantic overtures and questioning his tall tales. While Rowena initially finds his blunt honesty “annoying and sometimes downright rude” (76), the events of the story repeatedly show that his judgment is sound.

When Rowena’s wish transforms Henry, Sam becomes her closest source of support. Rather than criticizing Rowena, he helps care for Henry, comforts her, and tries to understand how the spell can be undone. His steadfast loyalty and quiet dependability stand in clear contrast to Henry’s selfish behavior. As Rowena spends more time with Sam, she begins to appreciate his honesty, kindness, and willingness to help others. Their relationship at the end of the novel reflects Rowena’s growing ability to recognize genuine care and dependability instead of being impressed by charm alone.

Henry, the traveling salesman for the Neverfail Farm Implement Company, is Rowena’s first romantic interest. He wins people over with his charm and flattery and manipulates those around him, particularly Rowena, with fabricated stories of his worldly travels to sell more farm equipment. Much of his friendly manner is intended to help him make sales rather than build genuine relationships. When Rowena’s wish causes him to literally grow roots, the image he has created begins to fall apart. Trapped and helpless, he becomes demanding, selfish, and verbally abusive, revealing that his kindness toward Rowena was never sincere. His transformation into a sycamore tree forces Rowena to see him as he really is instead of the romantic figure she imagined, helping her recognize that his attention was meant to benefit himself rather than showing real care for her.

Leland and Lenora are minor characters and Polly’s closest friends throughout the story. Living in a small house near Spider Crick, the twins know the woods, plants, and animals around Spider Crick well, sharing this knowledge with Polly. They’re described as “shy as wild foxes” but are fiercely loyal to each other and to Polly (21). Though they answer Polly’s sharp tongue with teasing of their own, they’re the first to show genuine concern and offer help when she begins croaking like a bullfrog. Their loyalty and acceptance help Polly realize that she already has friends who care about her, even before her wish changes the way she speaks.