At first glance, this novel may appear to be nothing more than a cliched formula romance in which a poor boy tries to court a wealthy girl. But through the voice of Jeff Mead, Strasser manages to go beyond mere formula, creating a novel that convincingly portrays the confusion of first love from the male point of view. Jeff is open and honest as he discusses his feelings, in particular his self-doubt and confusion about Melissa.

The novel also makes effective use of setting, characters, and language to explore the similarities and differences between Jeff and Melissa and their social backgrounds. For example, Jeff's and Melissa's homes and friends are used to point out their surface differences. Jeff is frequently presented as an outsider, almost always watching Melissa from a distance either when she is at the stadium or when he sneaks over to her house...