The Boxes is the story of Annie Levi, a shy, obedient fifteen-year-old girl whose life is ruled by others. Her parents are dead, and she lives in a large old house with her Aunt Ruth, a nasty, chain-smoking, fat banker who verbally abuses Annie. "You always were an ungrateful brat" is one of Aunt Ruth's typical remarks to Annie. If there is a failing in the characterization in The Boxes, it is with Aunt Ruth, who is given no positive qualities to offset her meanness. Annie even fears that Aunt Ruth would kill her if she saw profit in it. Perhaps the portrait of Aunt Ruth is a product of Annie's biases, for Annie is the novel's narrator.

On the other hand, Annie adores her Uncle Marco, who has "thick black hair": "He had a narrow face with a strong nose and cleft chin...