Ivy Logan
Lou Ann’s mother, who lives in Kentucky with her mother-in-law, Granny Logan. She is prejudiced and didn’t want Lou Ann to marry a Mexican.
Granny Logan
Lou ann’s grandmother, who lives in Kentucky with her daughter-in-law, Lou Ann’s mother. she is demanding and prejudiced and rarely speaks directly to her daughter-in-law.
Bobby Bingo
An old man who sells fresh vegetables out of his run-down truck, which he parks down the street from where Lou Ann lives.
Lee Sing
The owner of the market across the street from where Lou Ann lives. She lives in the back of the store with her mother, who is said to be over a hundred years old.
Edna Poppy
A blind, elderly woman who lives with, and depends on, a woman named Virgie Mae. The two women are Taylor and Lou Ann’s neighbors. Edna always dresses in red. She is a kind woman who occasionally baby-sits Turtle and Dwayne Ray.
Virgie Mae Valentine Parsons
Taylor and Lou Ann’s neighbor. She is an extremely formal, rude, and prejudiced elderly woman who lives with and cares for Edna.
Father William
A priest involved with the Sanctuary movement.
Terry
A doctor who visits Jesus Is Lord Used Tires to care for the political refugees living in sanctuary. He eventually moves to a Navajo reservation to work.
Estevan
A political refugee from Guatemala living in sanctuary at Jesus Is Lord Used Tires. While in Guatemala, Estevan was an English teacher. He now washes dishes at a Chinese restaurant. Married to Esperanza, he risks his life to help Taylor keep Turtle by posing as Turtle’s father.
Esperanza
Estevan’s wife, who lives with him in sanctuary at Jesus Is Lord Used Tires. She is extremely depressed and attempts suicide. On the journey to the safe house in Oklahoma, Esperanza spends time caring for Turtle. She is able to symbolically give up her daughter, Ismene (who was kidnapped in Guatemala), when she poses as Turtle’s mother and gives her to Taylor.
Harland Elleston
A man who marries Taylor’s mother. he is part-owner of El-Jay’s paint and body in Pittman County, Kentucky. according to Taylor, he has “warts on his elbows and those eyebrows that meet in the middle.”
Cynthia
A social worker who becomes involved in Taylor and Turtle’s lives when someone attempts to molest Turtle while she’s under Taylor’s care. Child Protective Services discovers that Taylor doesn’t have legal claim to Turtle, and Cynthia informs Taylor. She later gives Taylor information about what she can do to acquire legal custody of Turtle.
Mr. Jonas Wilford Armistead
A tall, elderly man who arranges for Taylor’s legal adoption of Turtle.
Mrs. Cleary
Mr. Armistead’s secretary.
