Structure

The structure of the novel, written primarily in free-verse poetry, contributes to a more intimate understanding of Octavia’s childhood and development as a writer because she is being seen through the lens she intended and Zoboi’s observations are not weighed down by extra prose and description to set the scenes. Readers see the world of the 1940s and 1950s through a childlike lens and understand her perception of the surroundings. Objective fact and retelling of historical events situates readers in the timeline and allows them to compare and contrast Octavia’s understanding of events with the complete truth.

Everything that is written is important and vital to the backstory of Octavia, and also functions as a kind of stream of consciousness, enhancing the relationship between reader and character. The structure overall is simple and serves the narrative purpose of bringing a biography to life and...