Working in the short story format, Crutcher's style is very storytelling, very straightforward. Although there are illusions to the past, there are few flashbacks.

Diaries, letters, and other techniques are not used. All the stories are told in the first person, except "The Other Pin" which is the least dramatic and personal of the stories and is told in the third person. The characters are, as always in Crutcher's work, very introspective as they make their way through the moral and emotional minefield of adolescence. Yet, it is primarily through dialogue and interaction with other characters that readers learn most about the truth in each character. The dialogue is very sharp, often witty, and rings true. In some cases, such as "Telephone Man," this results in harsh language and racial slurs. The characterization is strong for all the main characters, but also in the new and...