Cassie Logan : A 17-year-old girl who narrates this story. She is spunky, witty and a bit of a tomboy. She feels she has no time for love and wants to finish school before thinking about men. However she starts to fall for Solomon Bradley.
Stacey Logan : Cassie's 20-year-old brother. He is protective of his little sister as well as prideful.
Christopher-John Logan : Cassie and Stacey's second younger brother who is 15 years old. He has a good sense of hearing and doesn't like to go against the wishes of his parents.
Little Man (Clayton Chester Logan) : Cassie, Stacey, and Christopher-John's youngest brother. He is a year younger than Christopher-John and likes to have his clothes neat and clean.
David Logan : The head of the Logan household and father of the children above. He is strong and the proud owner of over 400 acres (1.6 km ) of land, a rarity for a black man in Mississippi.
Mary Logan : David's wife and mother of the Logan children. She is very supportive of her husband.
Caroline Logan : David's mother who lives on the 400-acre (1.6 km ) land plot with her son and grandchildren.
Oliver Logan : Cassie and Stacey's cousin who lives in Jackson. He is a year older than Stacy and is apprehensive about putting so much trust in a white boy like Jeremy.
Uncle Hammer Logan : David's brother who lives in Chicago who Stacey advises Moe to go live with him.
Other Characters
Moe Turner : Stacey's friend from childhood. He is not as talkative as his other friends but his opinion is well respected. Also later in the book he tells Cassie how he is in love with her and wants to marry her.
Jeremy Simms : A white boy who has been a secret friend to the Logan family for years. He is often whipped by his father for associating with black people. He joined the army later on, and never came back, presumably dead.
Clarence Hopkins : One of Stacy's friends from childhood who is often humorous and good-natured. He suffers from a severe headache and eventually dies during the book.
Harris : An overweight neighbor boy who is the same age as Cassie. He is slightly shy and timid. He has a fear of the Aames brothers.
Aames Brothers : They include Statler, Leon and Troy. They are cousins of Jeremy and like to cause trouble especially with people of color in the community. They are injured severely after Moe hits them with a crowbar.
Charlie Simms : Father of Jeremy and uncle to the Aames brothers. Like the Aames brothers he is not very fond of people of color in the community.
Little Willie Wiggins (Willie) : Stacy's friend from childhood. He is also very humorous and not as tall as any of his other friends.
Solomon Bradley : A man in his mid to late 20s whom Cassie meets back in Jackson. He is handsome and works for a newspaper in Memphis. He is also a graduate from Harvard University.
Wade Jamison : A white lawyer who is known throughout the community for helping the people of color. He is the one who advises them about what to do about Moe.
Sissy : Clarence's girlfriend and Harris's twin sister who Cassie's grandmother says is a lot like Cassie. She does not approve of Cassie's constant hanging around with boys like her brother and Clarence. Later on it is learned she is pregnant with Clarence's child.
Ma Dessie : A woman that Cassie, Stacy, Moe, Little Willie, and Clarence meet on their way to Memphis who tries to take care of Clarence's headache.
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