Point of View

The point of view of The Summer of the Swans is third person semi-omniscient, with the point of view alternating between Sara Godfrey and occasionally Charlie Godfrey. This point of view tells the story through Sara's eyes, with all her emotions and experiences coloring every event in the novel. In this way, the writer gives wonderful insight into the experiences of a teenage girl who has the special circumstance of dealing with a mentally impaired brother.

The third person semi-omniscient point of view is one that allows the reader into the mind of a main character, providing more than just a report on actions in which the narrator participates. By using the semi-omniscient point of view, the reader is allowed not only to see how characters react to a certain situation, but also to feel the way they react and experience their emotions as if they...