Point of View

Shusterman uses third person point of view limited to certain characters. Every chapter has at least one character on whom the narrator focuses. This allows the reader to see events through that character’s observations and understanding of it. Many chapters also switch between multiple characters’ perspectives. This allows the reader to see an event through different lenses and piece together a greater comprehension of the larger scene using information from the different characters. Shusterman often utilizes this method in scenes with a lot of action and moving parts, like the theater attack in Chapter 26 and Endura sinking in Chapter 45.

Point of view also augments the characters’ outlook toward their identities. Rowan, Citra, and Greyson all struggle with their personal identities during Thunderhead. Shusterman uses perspective to show different sides of the way these characters view themselves as well as the way others view them...