Wells uses similes effectively. For example, she describes the discovery of Kathy's tennis talent as, "Tennis had come suddenly to Kathy, like the unexpected winning of a state lottery. And like those gleeful lottery winners pictured in the papers grinning among the signals of poverty that were theirs moments before, Kathy cherished tennis, and outwardly reveled in it." To describe people who find fault with others, Wells writes, "Why did they always spot her dreadful little flaws, save them up like money and present her with them, cooked and flavored like a perfect chowder of inconsistency, temper losing, and vile habits?"

Although an important clue is mentioned on the first page of the book, there is no hint of any foul play or mystery until well past the middle of the book. Even then Kathy (and the reader) are sheltered from the truth for fear it...