Heinlein tells the story from Poddy's perspective in the form of a diary.

Poddy's journal is full of superlatives, invented language, and broken sentences. She relates events after the fact, as if she were finding time to write during a quiet moment. Because of this form, the plot jumps from one distinct set of happenings to another, instead of proceeding in a continuous manner.

Some critics have found this technique choppy and disconnected, although others have praised Heinlein's use of the diary form.

Much of the suspense in Podkayne of Mars is derived from the fact that Podkayne only reveals as much of the plot as she knows or can deduce at any one time. For example, she knows that Clark has smuggled something aboard the ship but does not know what. She is also kept in the dark about her Uncle Tom's mission. The picture...