1. Cassie- She is the main character, but more things happen to other characters than her. She is a girl, so she can't work on the plantation, but she is expected to treat white girls with utmost respect. The book revolves around her finding her place in the world.
2. Stacey- He is Cassie's brother and older, so he gets to do a lot of things she doesn't, like working on the plantation. He is nice and blames himself for every bad thing that happens, even when his family tells him things aren't his fault.
3. Dad- He makes a living off the cotton plantation, but it is not enough. To earn extra money, he works on a railroad, only coming to see his family a couple times a year. He gets shot while going to town to buy groceries, and his leg is broken. He survives, and he stays home for a while afterward.