Point of View

The point of view of this novel is in first person. This is important because the reader really connects to the situation and the emotions of what is occurring in the novel. Through the first person viewpoint, the reader can feel the shock of the news Ben receives, see his concerns over how it's going to affect his loved ones, and get a glimpse into his own thought process throughout his final year. The book offers an unusual approach to death. It doesn't exactly embrace it, but it accepts it. Because the reader is part of Ben, the reader is encouraged to accept death as a part of life, too.

The first person perspective helps the reader put things into perspective. Instead of judging Rudy, the reader is part of the thought process of understanding his entire story right through to its tragic outcome. The reader...