* Lily Owens: A 14-year-old girl who runs away from home with her black caregiver, Rosaleen, after Rosaleen is attacked by racist white men. Lily is seeking answers about her mother, who died when she was four.
* Rosaleen: Lily's loving and fiercely loyal caregiver. She is a strong and independent black woman who stands up for what she believes in, even when it puts her in danger.
While other characters like the Boatwright sisters (August, June, and May) play significant roles in the story, Lily and Rosaleen are the central protagonists.