- Sam Gribley – a 12-year-old boy who leaves home to live in the wilderness.
- Dad Gribley – Sam's father. He lets Sam leave home, believing Sam will return after just a day or two. He is surprised at Sam's independence and tenacity.
- Bill - the man that helped Sam to learn how to fish and make a fire.
- Mrs. Thomas Fiedler – a 97-year-old woman who forces Sam to help her pick strawberries for her famous jam and betrays Sam by reporting him.
- Miss Turner – a librarian at a public library in Delhi, New York who befriends Sam.
- Frightful – Sam's peregrine falcon. Sam trains Frightful to hunt for food that Sam can eat.
- Baron Weasel – a weasel that Sam accidentally traps. The weasel is Sam's best friend.
- Bando – an English professor who is lost in the woods, and spends 10 days with Sam. He becomes a father-figure to Sam over the next year.
- Jesse Coon James – a raccoon that Sam befriends. Sam learns how to hunt for mussels by watching Jesse.
- Matt Spell – a teenage boy who writes for a local newspaper and visits Sam. He writes about Sam in the newspaper. He pretends to be a friend but betrays Sam.
- Aaron – a Jewish songwriter who visits the wilderness near Sam's home to get inspiration.
- Tom Sidler – called "Mr. Jacket" by Sam, Tom is a boy who lives in the town of Delhi in the state of New York.
- Alice Gribley - Sam's younger sister.
- Mom Gribley - Sam Gribley's Mother
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