The protagonist, Horace "Ace" Hobart, a mischievous sixteen-year-and-four-monthold boy, talks to and confides with readers.

Readers experience Ace's ability to look at himself and his life in a light-hearted manner. Throughout the novel, he humorously relates his reactions and feelings. He has the capacity to look at his shortcomings and shares them with readers in a good-natured and witty way.

For instance, his perceptive sister Nora knew a year before him that his Uncle Jake spent time in jail before he started his wholesale rice business. Nora told Ace that Uncle Jake evaded his income tax. Instead, Ace believed his Aunt Betty's explanation that Uncle Jake went into the hospital for T.B. he contracted while in the merchant marines.

Therefore, Ace sent Uncle Jake a get-well card. These self-disclosures throughout the novel bring light-heartedness and humor to Ace's adventures and mitigate the more...