Point of View

This story is told in the first person point of view by its protagonist, Patty Bergen. This allows the reader to get inside the mind of the young girl and better understand her complex feelings and motivations. By seeing the world through Patty’s eyes, the reader becomes sympathetic to her and can understand her character on a deeper level than those outside her world can.

Setting

The novel is mainly set in the Southern United States, in the small town of Jenkinsville, Arkansas. It is set in the 1940s, during the Second World War. Segregation between the races is strictly adhered to, and any form of difference is alien and suspect. The Bergens do whatever they can to fit in so that they can prosper in the mainly white and Christian town.

Language and Meaning

The language of the novel is tinged with a...