comment on tone

The tone of the novel ranges across the board. Much of the transition between tones in the novel coincides with the aging of the author. As a child, Peter's tone is that of a hurt child, in that he clearly does not understand his parent's heritage, and often finds himself at odds with his own ancestry, without realizing the true meaning behind it. As he gets older, his tone changes to that of indifference, as his teenage years are filled with a desire to belong to his peer group, and to ignore his heritage. Once Peter learns of the genocide, and as he begins to learn of his family's plight during the genocide, Peter's tone becomes angry and combative, as he strives to make peace with a family secret.