Point of View

The novel is told entirely from the first-person viewpoint of the protagonist, Daisy. This is an important aspect of the story, because in several ways, the book's effectiveness relies heavily on her voice. Initially, her tone is flip and self-involved, with occasional bursts of anger directed at her father and stepmother, and a lot of skewering humor, but with very little interest displayed in the threat of war around her. It is the very believable voice of a bright American teenager. However, as Daisy settles into her new life in England and her new fascination with her cousin, Edmond, more of who she really is begins to surface from underneath her sardonic exterior. Her voice starts to reveal shades of melancholy, disappointment, fear of the future, and a desperate need to love and be loved. Later, as the war escalates and Daisy is thrown into the...