Rumble Fish Style

Rumble Fish Style

First-Person Narrative

The book is written in first person from Rusty James's point of view, which allows the reader to see events only as Rusty James sees them, leading to some interesting questions about Rusty James's perception and how much of it is accurate. In particular, it's not clear whether his suspicions of some adults are correct or not. For example, he is cynical about Cassandra and her motives and doesn't trust her because she gave up her rich family to come and live in his bad neighborhood and follow his brother around. He is also suspicious of Coach Ryan because Ryan is friendly with him. Although it's clear that both Coach Ryan and Cassandra have problems and motives of their own, readers may wonder whether they're as bad, or as selfish or phony, as Rusty James thinks they are.

In addition, the one-sided presentation of events from Rusty James's perspective is poignant because readers may see the gaps and flaws in his reasoning when he does not. He wants more than anything to be like his brother, but from the reader's point of view, this ambition is questionable: his brother has accomplished nothing, is going nowhere, and has lost both his color vision and his hearing through his own lack of good judgment. And although the Motorcycle Boy is apparently a natural leader, it's clear that he will never really use this gift for anything constructive because he is so emotionally damaged. This sad fact is lost on Rusty James. Although in many other ways he seems much older than his fourteen years, in his unswerving admiration of his brother, he seems much younger.

The book is written in a tough, breezy style, as Rusty...
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