Cal is a twelve-year-old boy who proudly lives as a "hobo" and rides the freight trains with his father. He experiences vivid clairvoyant visions that connect him to other people's memories and future events. Raised to believe he is white, he faces a significant personal shift when he learns of his Creek heritage and is sent to the Challagi Indian School. He values hard work, respects the transient honor code, and possesses a quiet, observant nature.

Pop is a World War I veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, occasionally falling into flashbacks of the trenches. He lives by a strict code of honor as a migrant worker and takes his responsibilities as a father seriously. Driven by a desire to secure a better future, he decides to join the Bonus Army protests in Washington while sending his son to get an education.

Possum is a knowledgeable student at the Challagi Indian School who quickly takes Cal under his wing. He understands the intricate, unspoken rules of the boarding school and knows how to avoid the cruelties of the administration. He gives Cal the nickname "Jay Bird" and introduces him to the broader Creek community on campus.

Cal's deceased mother is remembered as a loving, protective presence in her family's life. An Armenian immigrant who rode the Orphan Trains out West, she eventually built a life with Pop. She possessed clairvoyant abilities similar to Cal's and made the difficult choice to raise her son as white to shield him from societal prejudice.

Bear Meat acts as the formidable leader of the Creek gang at the Challagi school. He embodies traditional Creek values, ensuring that those under his leadership receive their fair share of food. He initially tests Cal's toughness through a physical confrontation but accepts him into the group when Cal demonstrates honor.

Deacon is a student at Challagi who holds deep connections to traditional Creek spiritual practices. He leads the nighttime stomp dances that give the boys a sense of cultural pride. He plays a vital role in helping Cal process his clairvoyant visions through traditional cleansing rituals.

Esom is a Black World War I veteran who fought for the French Army because the United States military would not initially accept Black soldiers. Despite earning medals for his bravery, he faces severe, life-threatening racism and struggles to find employment in the Jim Crow South.

The head administrator at the Challagi Indian School presents a veneer of civility and fairness to outsiders. However, he holds deeply prejudiced views, openly referring to the students' ancestors as savages. He oversees the government's attempt to forcefully assimilate Indigenous children into white culture.

Edith is the widow of Samson K. Euler, a man Pop served alongside during the war. She is cautious and defensive due to recent thefts by unhoused travelers, but she acts hospitably toward honorable people, feeding Cal and Pop in exchange for their labor.

Little Coon is an active member of the Creek gang at Challagi. He helps Cal learn the ropes of the dining hall, warning him to eat quickly because food is scarce, and participates in the boys' clandestine nighttime activities.

Tommy is a student at Challagi who appears entirely white but claims Creek ancestry. He seeks belonging among the other Indigenous boys, joining their nighttime stomp dances despite some students viewing him with suspicion due to his physical appearance.

Sheriff Boyle is a highly prejudiced law enforcement officer in Fairville, Arkansas. He targets the unhoused population, particularly Black men, using violence and intimidation to enforce systemic racism in his jurisdiction.

Grasshopper is a student at Challagi who holds strong opinions about who belongs at the Indian School. He openly states that white-passing students do not belong there, causing friction within the student body.

Mrs. Wilting is the nurse at Challagi who processes new students. She cuts off Cal's hair, scrubs his scalp with harsh kerosene, and assumes he is full-blood Creek based purely on his physical features, demonstrating the institution's impersonal approach to its charges.

Gale is an "Angel of Mercy" who rides the freight trains, acting as an impromptu doctor for transient people in need. She possesses a cookstove and shares valuable political news with travelers on the rails.

Jack is an unethical transient who steals chickens and a kettle from Edith Euler. He represents the kind of dishonorable behavior that Cal and Pop actively distance themselves from in their adherence to the hobo code.