Nicolás is a nine-year-old El Salvadoran boy. He lives alone with his grandfather in the mountains while his mother works in the city. He lives a poor but fulfilling life; enjoying the company of his grandfather, their animals, and his rancho very much. Nicolás’s mother is Catholic, and he has adopted her religious beliefs. Their mutual love for La Virgen helps keep them connected even after her death. He believes in miracles and that he is protected by the divine influence of La Virgen. Nicolás is pure of heart, never tempted toward violence or destruction. He is not impressed by guns or fighting. Rather, he would prefer a quiet life along the river with his grandfather. The civil war forces him to make adult decisions at a young age, and his journey throughout the novel is about deciding what kind of man he will become. He is born an innocent lamb and becomes a brave lion.  

Tino, or Tata, is an old and weathered man accustomed to living a hard life. He has wrinkled brown skin, tired legs, and no shoes. He finds peace in the mountains with Nicolás, for whom he lives. The same patient, nonviolent characteristics that Nicolás exhibits are mirrored in his grandfather.