Point of View

A Gate at the Stairs is a first person narrator told by Tassie Keltjin, a 20-year-old college student. Her experiences are in line with a person of that age: an apartment to take care of, a roommate, classes to attend, a relationship, and a part-time job.

Tassie functions are more of a witness to major life events rather than as a participant. She observes what happens to and around her. She watches Sarah and Edward go through the adoption process and, in turn, have the child taken from them; she watches as her first significant relationship falls apart; and she must deal with her brother’s death.

The novel is set in the months following the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. As happened with many at this time, Tassie observes horrific events around her. She cannot control or prevent them, but must instead figure out how...