Aunt Maria features a rich cast of characters. Mig (a nickname for Naomi Margaret) is a central figure along with brother Chris, mother Betty Laker, and of course, Aunt Maria. Mig, through whose words the story is told, is the most intriguing character, partly for the way she changes as the story unfolds. She is bright, ambitious, resourceful, chatty, and unswervingly loyal to her brother. Inner strength and a matured outlook emerge as she is drawn into a power struggle that engulfs her immediate family members and leaves her alone to thwart Aunt Maria.

While Mig confronts Aunt Maria warily, brave Chris—alienated from the imperfect adults in his life—is inclined toward sarcastic remarks and defiance.

As a result of Aunt Maria's magical retaliation, Chris spends a good part of the novel courageously but helplessly staging his protest as a wolf...