Henry is an 11-year-old boy of French Canadian heritage who recently moved to Wickburg with his family. Grieving the loss of his older brother, he struggles to help his family survive their resulting emotional and financial hardship. He is a sensitive, deeply religious boy who works at the Corner Market to assist his parents.

Jacob Levine is an elderly Jewish man who survived the Holocaust after being forced to build gas chambers for the Nazis. He resides at an institution in Wickburg and spends his days at a local craft center. He manages his trauma by carving a detailed wooden replica of his destroyed hometown, bringing his lost community back to life in miniature.

Mr. Hairston is the manager of the Corner Market where Henry works. He smiles and fawns over customers to their faces, but uses vicious racial slurs as soon as they depart. He views the people around him with contempt and fondly remembers the days of wartime rationing when he could rule his business like a dictator.

Doris is Mr. Hairston's pale, quiet daughter who is a year older than Henry. She walks slowly and cautiously to avoid drawing attention to herself or her injuries. Enduring severe physical and verbal abuse from her father, she attempts to warn Henry about her father's dangerous nature.

George is the large, physically imposing director of the city-supported craft center. As a former World War II army translator, he speaks Yiddish and acts as a bridge between Mr. Levine and the wider world. He demonstrates deep empathy for the center's vulnerable patrons and encourages Henry to spend time there.

Eddie is Henry's deceased older brother, whose death in a hit-and-run accident fundamentally altered the Cassavant family. His memory casts a heavy shadow over his parents and younger brother. Henry frequently visits his unmarked grave and wishes he could afford a proper headstone featuring a baseball bat and ball.

Henry's mother takes up waitressing at a local diner to support her family after her husband stops working. She remains trapped in grief over the loss of her older son. Hoping to escape painful memories, she pushes for the family's relocation to Wickburg, though she continues to struggle with her daily reality.

Henry's father falls into a severe depression following the death of his oldest son. Once an active man who enjoyed cards and gambling, he becomes completely paralyzed by sorrow and is unable to maintain his employment. He eventually seeks specialized psychiatric treatment at a hospital to address his condition.

Jackie is a boy in Henry's neighborhood who covets Henry's position at the Corner Market. He deliberately provokes Henry by making cruel remarks about Mr. Cassavant's mental health. His antagonistic behavior adds stress to Henry's already difficult life.