What is the author's style in Slake's Limbo by Felice Holman?

The point of view of the novel is third person. This point of view is reliable, proven by the fact that the narrator knows the actions of the events he reports on and the observations he makes of other people. The point of view is important to the novel because a major aspect of the novel is the emotional growth and development of the main character, Slake. There could not be the dramatic impact of this growth and development if the reader could not see into Slake's thoughts and most personal fears. Slake is a teenage boy who hardly talks, so the point of view gives the reader a deep look into Slake's mind. The point of view is a close third person because Slake deals with intense emotions and he is also an observer.

The story is told mostly through exposition with some dialogue. The passages are not very descriptive and they are short, but they do give a personal look into Slake's fears and survival mode. This method is most likely used in order to keep the reader focused on Slake. He spends the novel moving around the subway. The reader must see the subway and the people through Slake's eyes to understand the full scope of his experience. The reader would be lost if s/he is not privy to Slake's thoughts. The events of the novel are seen through Slake's eyes. There is a section called On Another Track where the reader sees the story told through the third person point of view of Willis Joe Whinny, a train conductor. The author gives the reader a close perspective of Wills Joe because, like Slake, he struggles internally with humanity and his life.