Point of View

This novel is told by a third-person narrator. Most of the focus is on Jake because he is the main character and hero. However, the narrator also follows other characters at points in the novel to tell a full story. For instance, Josie and her children are the focus of the narrator in the first chapter of the novel as they live through the experience of Stuart coming home drunk, beating Josie, and getting shot by Drew. While this novel could have been told in the first person and the story of the abuse and shooting narrated by Jake, the second-hand telling of the story would not have been emotionally effective as it is when told by the third person.

The third-person point of view also allows the reader to understand the thoughts and emotions of characters other than just Jake. While it is important...