Main Families in Part One  of 
Cleared for Planting

The Cagle Family - mother, father, and three daughters. They were tenant farmers in Piedmont North Carolina but were unable to stay in one place for long and decided to move to the North Carolina mountains at Roy Cagle's invitation.

Lester Cagle - the father, who has a drinking problem and can't read 

Kathleen Cagle - the mother, who has the strongest faith of anyone in the family, but is retiring and easily led by her husband

Francine (Francie) - the oldest daughter is sixteen when the novel opens

Emmaline (Emma) - the main character is fourteen at the first of the book. She's imaginative, outspoken, and loves learning.

Christine (Christie) - the youngest at ten

Uncle Roy - Lester's brother whose wife and son have died, and he invited his brother and family to come live with him in his mountain cabin east of the Linville River

The Moretz Family - mother, father, three sons, and a daughter. Of German descent, Fred's father moved from Pennsylvania to the mountains of North Carolina. Some of the family run a grist mill at Meat Camp to the northeast, but this branch of the family farms.

Frederick Moretz (Fred) - Likes his mountain farm and hope his sons will also want to remain close

Eleanor Moretz - Feels isolated sometimes and enjoys female company

Luther - the oldest son at twenty-one is easy-going and begins to like Francie

Martin - is only a year younger than Luther, and they act more like twins. However, Martin is moodier and doesn't handle hard situations well

Edgar - loves to tease but also has a serious, responsible side. He's eighteen when the book begins.

Hilda - is eleven and often feels left out, since her brothers are older

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