What were some of the characters in Nightjohn?

John: This central character in the novel is an escaped slave who returns to the South with the mission of teaching other slaves how to read.

Sarny: This character is the protagonist and narrator of the novel. Born into slavery, she is 12 years old when the narrative opens.

Old Delie: Known as "Mammy" to the younger slaves, this character acts as a mother to all the infants born on the plantation.

Clel Waller: This character is a plantation owner and a ruthless master who regularly beats and dehumanizes his slaves.

Alice: This character is a teenage slave with a mental disability. She is raped in the breeding quarters and then wanders the plantation in a traumatized state.