Point of View

The narrative uses Isaiah’s first-person perspective. This is appropriate given the narrative premise that Isaiah is on a journey that allows him to find and use his voice. The point of view works particularly well in that Isaiah’s voice is strong and distinct, and represents his state of mind, allowing readers to follow his growth through his voice. The point of view ties into the motif of believing in oneself by using Isaiah’s own words to illustrate how he gains confidence and comes to believe in himself. In addition, the point of view supports the motif of the mistreatment of research animals as it personifies Isaiah. Thus style and substance reinforce each other.

At the same time, as this is a narrative intended for middle schoolers, the point of view makes it easy for children to identify with Isaiah as they are...