Perspective

This account reads as a memoir, given in the first person point of view. Pelzer tells his story as he remembers it, and, though he often wonders about the motivations of other people, he never gives their perspective. With the exception of the first chapter, Pelzer gives his perspective as an adult. In the beginning, though, the story appears through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy. Throughout life, he continues to think about these years as a boy, even after becoming a man. Finally, Marsha, his second wife, points out that his past occurred through no fault of his own.

Narrative makes up most of the story, with breaks in the narrative for dialogue at certain points. The lack of large portions of dialogue occurs because Pelzer himself avoids human contact through much of his life. In childhood, his mother prevents him from talking to others through isolation...