The perspective of the book is that of the author. It is his story mixed in with stories of his students. Since most of the book is autobiographical, it is written in the first person with the author serving as the narrator. Rose relates his experience growing up in South Los Angeles, the son of poor immigrant parents. He tells of the difficulties he experienced in the American education system. Sent to a Catholic high school, he spent two years in the Vocational Education program for remedial programs so he had first hand experience with the classification and the kind of education a remedial program provided. He also learned first hand what it means to have a teacher take an interest in a student personally and give special help, something that he himself was able to do for many students. The author has been in the position of many of the students he was able to help.