Novalee is a seventeen-year-old expectant mother who finds herself stranded in Sequoyah, Oklahoma. Having grown up in the foster system after her mother abandoned her at age seven, she is determined to provide a secure life for her baby. She struggles with a deep-seated superstition about the number seven, tracking how often the numeral coincides with bad events in her life. Despite her vulnerable situation living secretly in a discount store, she accepts help from the locals and focuses on building a stable future.

Willy Jack is an eighteen-year-old aspiring musician hoping to secure a railroad settlement scheme in California. Small in stature but highly confident, he is focused entirely on his own ambitions and easily frustrated by his pregnant girlfriend's physical limitations. He makes impulsive choices to benefit himself, agreeing to transport a stranger across state lines without considering the legal risks.

Forney is a quiet, well-read man from a historically wealthy Maine family who currently manages the Sequoyah town library. He dropped out of college to care for his older sister, whose alcoholism keeps her homebound. He quickly becomes a reliable presence in Novalee's life, regularly bringing books to her and encouraging her intellectual curiosity.

Sister Thelma Husband is an outgoing older woman with blue hair who acts as Sequoyah's unofficial welcome wagon. As a recovering alcoholic, she embraces her faith deeply but shares it gently, preferring to hand out single Bible chapters to avoid overwhelming people. She offers Novalee immediate, unconditional support and housing when she has nowhere else to go.

Lexie is a bubbly, hardworking nurse's aide and mother of multiple children whom she named after sweet treats. Having had her first child at fifteen, she understands the challenges of young motherhood and bonds quickly with Novalee. She is deeply devoted to her kids and actively searches for a reliable father figure to help raise them, believing a steady male presence will stabilize their household.

Moses is a proud local photographer who befriends Novalee early in her time in Sequoyah. He gives her a baby photo album and emphasizes the importance of giving children strong names. He acts as an educational figure, eventually teaching Novalee how to operate a vintage Rollei camera and develop film in a darkroom.

Benny is a Sac and Fox Indian teenager who works with his father at the local nursery. He has a sheltered, stable upbringing but longs to experience life outside his small town. He gifts Novalee a small tree that becomes an important symbol of luck and stability for her.

Americus is Novalee's daughter, whose birth inside a commercial business turns her into a brief media sensation. She grows up surrounded by an eccentric but loving community of surrogate family members. Her presence grounds Novalee and motivates her to create a permanent home.

Momma Nell is Novalee's biological mother who abandoned her a decade earlier. She reappears at the hospital when Novalee gains temporary media attention. She makes grand promises of financial help and a shared apartment, demonstrating a selfish opportunism regarding her daughter's sudden notoriety.

Ruth is a music agent based in Dallas who sees commercial potential in Willy Jack's songwriting. She attempts to manufacture his career by renaming him Billy Shadow and completely overhauling his public appearance to fit industry standards.

Claire is a librarian who interacts with Willy Jack during his time in prison. Believing he strongly resembles her deceased son Finny, she gifts Willy Jack a guitar, accidentally sparking his initial interest in songwriting.

Mr. Sprock is Sister Thelma Husband's gentleman companion. He is a steady, supportive presence in her home and readily assists Novalee with physical tasks when she first arrives in town.

Certain is Moses Whitecotton's wife. Alongside her husband, she carries the grief of losing a young daughter years prior, providing a quiet, supportive household in Sequoyah.

Brownie is Lexie Coop's eldest son. He grows up in a busy, single-parent household where his mother actively tries to find him a stable father figure, occasionally putting him in the path of unreliable men.

Praline is one of Lexie Coop's young daughters. She is raised in a tight-knit family unit heavily supported by her mother's grueling work schedule at the local hospital.

Jolene is a girl Willy Jack encounters after his car runs out of gas. She offers him money in exchange for transportation, but secretly carries stolen goods that severely complicate his cross-country journey.

Leon is a gentle man who transitioned from being a nurse's aide to a full nurse. He has a history of stepping in to protect vulnerable children, making him a reassuring and stabilizing presence at the hospital.

Troy is a local Sequoyah man Novalee meets while running errands. He takes her on several dates, prompting her to consider her romantic boundaries and take greater control over her physical health and future.

Sam Walton is the founder of the massive retail chain where Novalee takes shelter. He travels to Sequoyah to meet the young mother personally, offering her financial assistance and guaranteeing her a legitimate job at his store.