Hope Jahren
The author herself is the main character of her autobiography where she's written down her path in life, from being a daughter from a cold Scandinavian family through becoming a medical assistant to having her own laboratory and following her passion.
Bill
Bill is Hope's partner whom she grew to like while he was one of the students she was teaching when she worked as a chemistry assistant. They become partners after Hope decides to have her own laboratory. Bill makes her feel less alone and more confident in her path.
