According to his own understanding of literature, Cormier with his novels aims at the intelligent and sophisticated reader. This understanding is reflected in his literary technique which uses a third-person, non-omniscient narrator and thus provides alternating points of view. Such a technique enables the reader to really get involved in the conflict, to test his or her own attitude, and to shape his or her opinion more comprehensively.

The opening of We AH Fall Down is typical of Cormier's style. As in many of his other novels for young adults he intends to shock the reader and thereby get his or her attention. So the first paragraph—written in a news report style—provides the reader with the atrocious facts of the house trashing.

Throughout the text the author uses this technique several times in order to enhance the authenticity of his plot.

Cormier...