True Son
True Son is the name given to the protagonist of the novel, a young boy of fifteen years old who was raised by eleven years in an Indian tribe. True Son’s real name is John Cameron Butler but he vehemently refuses to answer when he is called by his white name. True Son was four years old when he was taken from his real parents by some Indians who attacked a group of workers during the harvest period. Because he was raised by Indians, True Son hates everything that has anything to do with whiteness and rejects the idea that he is white as well. When True Son is forced to return to his real parents, he suffers greatly and has a hard time adapting to the new way of living. But while True Son claims that he is not affected by the time when he lived with his real parents, the time he spends with his Indian friends and family prove the opposite. True Son realizes that the Indians are also to blame for the tense relationship between the whites and the Indians and that despite his refusal to believe it, Indians do kill indeed white children. Because True Son refuses to say that everything the Indians do is alright, he is shunned by his adoptive parents and forced to return to his white ones.
Half Arrow
Half Arrow is True Son’s Indian cousin. The relationship between them is described as being almost brother-like, the two boys being extremely fond of one another and spending a lot of time together. When True Son is taken from his Indian tribe, Half Arrow follows him closely and keeps him company until they reach the land dominated by white men. Half Arrow also goes to the city where True Son was taken and tries to look for him with Little Crane. After Little Crane is killed, Half Arrow scalps the man who killed his friend, thus avenging him. Half Arrow is also among the first to notice how True Son and changed after the time he spent with his white family.
Cuyloga
Cuyloga is True Son’s adoptive Indian father and he was also the man who took True Son away from his family. True Son describes Cuyloga on numerous occasions as being wise and as being the person he looks up to. True Son tries to live his life and respect the advices his father gave him when he was still living in the Indian tribe. When Cuyloga rejects True Son, he feels lost and his reaction proves that Cuyloga opinion mattered to him more than anything else.
Dell
Dell is the soldier who retrieves True Son from his Indian family and he is also a narrator in the novel. The story presented from Dell’s perspective is completely different from the one told from True Son’s point of view and thus it offers more diversity. Dell is among the only people who somehow understand True Son and why he behaves in a certain way and because of this he does not criticize True Son from his reactions as much as the other characters. After Dell delivers True Son to his parents, he leaves and it remains unclear what happened to him.
Little Crane
Little Crane is another Indian from the same tribe where True Son was raised. Little Crane followed the soldiers who took the whites from the Indian camps because his wife was among the people who were taken. When Half Arrow searches for True Son, Little Crane accompanies him and aids him in his search. Little Crane is killed by True Son’s uncle and the event creates even more friction between the whites and the Indians.
Harry Butler
Harry Butler is True Son’s biological father in the novel. Often referred to as Mr. Butler, he is described as being a calm, hard-working man who cares deeply for his family. Mr. Butler blames himself for the fact that his son was taken away from him and blames himself for his sickness as well. In comparison with his wife, Mr. Butler does not pressure True Son to do what he doesn’t want and lets him adapt to the new world on his own pace.
Uncle Wilse
Uncle Wilse is Mr. Butler’s brother and among the only characters in the novel that can be described as being fanatic. Uncle Wilse despises the Indians and he doesn’t try to hide his contempt for them. Uncle Wilse strikes True Son when he feels that he became too inconsiderate and doesn’t try to understand him at all. It is also suggested that Uncle Wilse was the one who killed Little Crane and that he was killed as well by Half Arrow.
Geordie
Geordie is True Son’s younger brother whom he meets after he moves with his white family. Geordie is among the few people who do not try to change True Son and make him fit the pattern set by white people. Geordie loves True Son because he is his brother and the two boys get along well. True Son also feels affection towards his brother and when he runs away with Half Arrow, he worries about how Geordie will react.
Myra Butler
Myra is True Son’s biological mother. She too was affected by her son’s disappearance and she had fallen ill shortly after he was kidnapped. Myra is a calm woman who loves her son but who is unable to understand why he doesn’t love her back. True Son’s lack of affection affects her deeply and so she falls again ill.
Aunt Kate
Aunt Kate is another relative to True Son. She lives in the same house as Mr. and Mrs. Butler and it is implied that she does chores around the house. Aunt Kate is the one who takes care of True Son and Myra when they fall ill but she is also the person who takes True Son’s Indian clothes and hides them away in the hope that True Son will wear the English clothes.
George Owens
George Owens is just like Wilse, True Son’s uncle. But while Wilse criticizes True Son for his inability to adapt, George Owens is more sympathetic and understanding. When True Son asks about the Paxton boys’ massacre, George Owens doesn’t get mad but rather remains calm and presents the events as seen through his eyes.
Alec
Alec is Uncle Wilse’s son. Just like his father, he has certain ideas about Indians and he even suspects True Son of stealing and hiding away things. When True Son and Geordie take a horse to go visit the last Indian living in the mountains, they are seen by Alec and he is also one of the men chasing the two boys.
Neal
Neal is a farmer who chases after True Son and Geordie when they take a horse to go to the mountains to visit the last Indian.
Dr. Childsley
Dr. Childsley is the town physician who comes to consult True Son when he gets sick.
A'astonah and Mechelit
A'astonah and Mechelit are True Son’s Indian sisters, who are mentioned when True Son returns to his Indian tribe with Half Arrow.
Thitpan
Thitpan is Little Crane’s brother. After hearing that his brother was killed, Thitpan came to the other Indians and convinced them to go attack the whites as revenge.
