Point of View

The novel is written in first person from the limited perspective of Alex Green. Alex is writing the story from the vantage of old age looking back over the events of her life. This means there is a chance that some of her memories are false. She admits that there may be some discrepancies. For example, she describes her final telephone conversation with Mrs. Gyzinska right after Alex receives her high school diploma. Alex explains that Mrs. Gyzinska has a cough during that telephone conversation. As it turns out, Mrs. Gyzinska dies just a year later. Though they keep in touch by letter, this is the last time they have a conversation, and they never see each other again. Alex notes that her memories of this final conversation are caught up in the memories of her subsequent illness and death. She does not say that...