What is the author's style in Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher?

The novel is written in the first person point of view. The narrating character is Eric Calhoune, known as Moby to everyone. Moby presents is story in a series of flashbacks, creating a narration that moves from present tense to past tense as he presents his story with a grouping of comments that helps the reader better understand the actions of the characters about whom he is talking. The point of view is restricted to Moby; therefore, some important action that takes place in the novel takes place outside the knowledge of the narrator and is presented in a story being told rather than seen. Moby's narration is clear and exciting, keeping the reader drawn in to the very last word.

The first person point of view works in this novel because it presents a story about a young, abuse victim from the standpoint of someone outside the action, someone who can present a somewhat objective viewpoint. The point of view is restricting, keeping the reader from seeing some of the most important events on which the plot is based, but the narration is so well written that the reader does not feel as though anything is missing. This point of view is the most intimate a writer can choose, and it creates a relationship between the reader and narrator that is important to the reader's ability to empathize with the characters, therefore caring about where the story ends. This point of view works for this plot, leaving the reader satisfied with the overall effect of the novel.