Point of View

The author writes Ghost Wall from the first person point of view of her 17-year-old protagonist Silvie Hampton. As the novel unfolds, Silvie's narrative gradually takes shape as she learns to trust not only her new companions and interaction with her surroundings, but her own opinions and voice. In the early passages of the novel, Silvie directs her attention largely outside her body and mind. Disinterested in orienting her reader to the finite details of Silvie's world and circumstances, the authorial handling of the narrative mimics Silvie's inability to open up to others, her profound fear of self and familial exposure.

Indeed the preliminary section written in the third person point of view about a bog girl prior to sacrifice, illustrates Silvie's significant distance from herself. While she is capable of perceiving the hearts, spirits, and interests of a vast number of other living beings...