Point of View

The point of view of the novel is a third-person limited narrative focusing on Gertie’s perspective. The narrative follows Gertie’s activities and ambitions. How Gertie perceives the characters around her is the lens through which the reader understands Gertie’s world. “She spent a lot of time explaining things that should have been obvious to people” (5).

Dialogue and reactions offer insight into how the other characters feel and react to Gertie. Mary Sue taunts Gertie and Gertie frames Mary Sue as her villain. Jean’s jealousy of Gertie’s academic progress is also on display through dialogue. Jean says to Gertie: “’Do you want to be my friend or do you want to keep on with your stupid mission?’” (102).

Gertie’s worldview is shaped by how her mother abandoned her as a baby. Gertie is in constant search for validation. Junior does not...