Lily Owens
Lily Owens is a fourteen year old girl who has been subjected to the cruelties of the world. She is haunted by the memory of when she was four and killed her mother. She beaten by her harsh father, T.Ray. She is raised in a community of racists. When her nanny, Rosaleen, is put in jail, Lily is forced to choose to stay in this demeaning town or leave.
Lily and Rosaleen escape to Tiburon, South Carolina in hopes of finding information on Lily's mother's past. They stumble across three black beekeeping sisters, the Boatwrights. Lily has reason to believe they hold the key to her mother's past. They stay at the Boatwright's house under an alias.
Lily is always on her toes waiting for T.Ray to come and taker her back to her home. While staying with the Boatwrights, Lily forms her own opinions of the world, thinking how frivolous skin color is. Lily finds herself attracted to August Boatwright's godson Zach, a black boy. When Lily discovers the truth about her mother, she must find inside herself the strength and love she has always wanted. She learns that everyone has a mother inside of them, they just have to search for her.
Terrance Ray Owens
T.Ray is Lily's cruel, stone-hearted father. He was madly in love with Lily's mother, Deborah, but that changed. T.Ray is the perfect example of what happens to someone who the world chews up and spits out. He thinks up cruel punishments for Lily, but loves her in his own way.
Deborah Owens
Deborah is Lily's mother. August Boatwright was her nanny as a child. When Deborah became depressed she left Lily and T.Ray and went to live with the Boatwrights. Even though it is questionable, Deborah loved Lily.
Rosaleen
Rosaleen was a peach picker for Lily's father. When Deborah was killed she became Lily's full time nurse. She was less of a nanny and more a mother figure. She was filled to the brim with black pride. Her biggest goal was to vote. She cares for Lily in a maternal way.