Point of View

The point of view of "Balls Don't Lie" is a combination of omniscient narrator and first-person monologue. The narrative is not told in chronological order; instead, various incidents of past and present are related with a cumulative effect of telling the recent past story of the major characters. The author knows the story and backstory and presents them in unconventional order to mimic the vagabond, randomized way that the characters move through life. Only Sticky and Anh-thu seem to have a sense of direction: his is to indulge in his great passion for basketball, hers is to serve as a healing, redemptive figure. The author's point of view supports his affection for all his characters.

Setting

"Ball Don't Lie" takes place in the Los Angeles metropolitan area: notably East L.A., the gritty underbelly of the city that is the location of Lincoln Rec, a public...