Niamh Power/Vivian Daly
Niamh Power/Vivian Daly is one of the protagonists of the novel. She is an immigrant from Ireland whose family came to the USA in the first half of the 20th century. Soon enough she becomes an orphan and is put on an orphan train. Years of struggles wait for her, for she is not lucky to be adopted by kind and harmless people from the start. Her story is revealed bit by bit, so that a reader could follow Niamh Power’s transformation into Vivian Daly. As a 91-year-old widow living a lonely life, Vivian finds peace by recounting the story of her life to Molly Ayer and cleaning out her attic together.
Molly Ayer
Molly Ayer is the second protagonist of the story. After death of her father and her mother’s imprisonment, she has lived with different foster parents. She is constantly neglected and abandoned. When she moves in with Ralph and Dina, her life changes for better, but this improvement has nothing to do with either Ralph or Dina. Molly meets Jack and Vivian and learns not to be afraid of feelings.
Ralph Thibodeaus
Ralph Thibodeaus is Molly’s foster parent.
Dina Thibodeaus
Dina Thibodeaus is Ralph’s wife and Molly’s foster parent but the latter is a thing she is definitely not happy about.
Jack
Jack is Molly’s boyfriend. He is good-looking, good at playing football and well-liked by others. Although Molly finds it hard to trust him, they manage to sort their problems out.
Terry
Terry is Jack’s mom. She is a single parent, who adores her son. By the way, she works for Vivian Daly.
Maise Power
Maise Power is Vivian’s little sister. According to Vivian, she is dead.
Dominic and James Power
Dominic and James Power are Vivian’s younger brothers. They are both dead.
Mr. Curran and Mrs. Scatcherd
Mr. Curran and Mrs. Scatcherd are agents of the Children’s Aid Society. They were with Vivian on the orphan train.
Hans
Hans or Dutchy was a bold boy Vivian met on the orphan train. Before they were separated, he promised her to find her. He was her first husband and the father of her one and only child. Hans was killed during the World War II.
Mr. Sorenson
Mr. Sorenson is an agent of the Children’s Aid Society.
The Grotes
Wilma and Gerald Grote are Vivian’s foster parents. Her life with them is difficult and full of struggles. Wilma hates the girl and makes her do all the work while Gerald starts making passes at her.
Miss Larsen
Miss Larsen is Vivian’s teacher. She gives the girl a hand after Vivian runs away from Grote’s house.
Mrs. Murphy
Mrs. Murphy is a landlady of Miss Larsen who doesn’t only gives Vivian a shelter but also finds her new parents.
The Nielsens
The Nielsens are foster parents of Vivian who become her real family. They take care about her, send her to school and even adopt her officially. They ask Niamh to change her name for Vivian, for that is a name of their dead daughter.
Sarah Dunnel
Sarah Dunnel is Vivian’s and Hans’ daughter. Vivian gives her away right after her birth. They meet again after many years, when Vivian is in her 90s and Sarah is in her 60s. Just like Hans, Sarah is a musician.
Jim Daly
Jim Daly is Vivian’s second husband and a friend of Hans. Although Vivian’s tenderness and respect for him couldn’t be compared with her love for Hans, Jim and Vivian’s marriage could be considered to be successful.
