Comment on language / style

Because Cassie is the narrator, the novel’s language is often geared towards evoking Cassie’s particular mental/emotional state at any given time. For example, in the first scene, Cassie feels shocked and nervous when it is announced that heath Thompson will be presenting Cassie’s award. Cassie has not interacted with Thompson since the time he raped her ten years prior, and the narration emphasizes Cassie’s sense of fear and shock in this current moment: “Life couldn’t possibly be that unfair” (11). This emphasis on emotional struggle persists throughout the novel as Cassie faces many difficult social challenges, such as reconciling with her mother and faces sexism in the workplace.