Perspective

The book is written in first person from a limited point of view. Because this is actually an autobiographical sketch a part of Grealy's life, the first person limited view is the only possibility. This does leave some holes, and some readers may be distracted by the lack of details on some points. For example, Lucy's mother is introduced and there are a few passages that talk about her actions and reactions to her daughter's illness, but these descriptions are superficial at best. There are no details about Lucy's relationship with her mother or other family members. She briefly mentions a brother's problems but then moves on, leaving the reader to wonder or guess about the larger dynamics of this family.

Tone

Grealy's book describes her life, focusing largely on her diagnosis of and subsequent treatment for cancer at age nine and going through a series of reconstructive...