Point of View

The point of view is the eldest child's, Anna's, throughout the book, although the narration is delivered in the third person. Anna is a reticent young lady. She takes after her father, who does not verbalize his feelings often. The reader is thus forced to interpret how Anna feels about things based upon her reactions to the events of the story, particularly her reactions to her voluble little brother's many questions and concerns. Caleb, unlike Anna, is always ready to voice his emotions, particularly his fears about Sarah leaving them. While Anna does not verbally share this feeling, she bursts into tears nearly every time Caleb worries aloud that Sarah might leave.

Anna's point of view is somewhat unreliable, only because she is too young to properly interpret the warm, loving signals that Sarah gives off to the family. Anna sees the facts clearly, but she...