Point of View

Dairy Queen is a first-person narrative recounted by D.J. Readers don't find out until the end that D.J. has supposedly written the book as an English assignment, but it is clear throughout the story that D.J. is the one telling it. It reads much like a diary.

it is important for readers to remember that they are only getting D.J.'s perspective on other people and situations, so they are often either not getting the whole story or are getting only her interpretation of what happened. For instance, she claims she is dumb and unattractive, although it is clear from the other characters' reactions to her that neither claim is true. This perspective also helps readers relate best to D.J., as she is the character most fleshed out and understood.

The first-person narrative is ideal for a coming-of-age story, because it...