Point of View

The author writes Falling Over Sideways from eighth-grader Claire Goldsmith's first person point of view. Claire's perspective allows the author to show Claire's deepest thoughts and feelings regarding each of the events of the novel. The reader is, therefore, able to connect with Claire; because she can see not only how Claire behaves in a variety of settings, but also how Claire responds emotionally in each of these spheres, the reader feels she knows Claire intimately. The first person point of view does not allow Claire to hide anything. Though she often tries to disguise her true feelings from her friends and family, her narrative voice reveals what is actually happening inside of her.

This choice of perspective creates a trust between the reader and the narrator. The reader gets to experience Claire's honest thoughts before and after her father's stroke, and to see Claire's...