4. Who is telling the story? What do you know about the main character?

Dooley Takes the Fall by Norah McClintock

'Dooley felt sick inside. Not throw-up sick this time, but the other kind of sick you get when the cops show up at your door and you're pretty sure they have you good this time. But worse than that because, contrary to what his uncle probably thought, no, he did not want to go back.' (Norah McClintock, Dooley Takes the Fall, page 132)

Dooley, is a seventeen year old boy who has had a rough past; drinking, drugs and crimes. Being in the doghouse for two years, makes Dooley realize he has the chance to forget his past and straighten up his life. The quote above allows you to see that this piece of writing, is written in third person limited. This would mean the story is in Dooley's perspective, but not personal enough that he is stating what he is doing or feeling using words, I or me.

While reading the novel, I began to believe Dooley was the one to blame for the deaths of various victims, based on his past record. Although the author is stating Dooley's thoughts and feelings on the situation, I predicted the story was going to have a twist and then be written in first person, meaning Dooley is the one stating what is occurring using words, I or me. After finishing the novel, I could see how my prediction didn't quite match the outcome of the story and the main character. When seeing the story progress, I began to change the way I looked at upcoming situations in the novel.

'Beside you,' by Marianas Trench represents Dooley Takes the Fall because it describes the relationship with Dooley and Beth. Dooley wishes Beth could be beside him, believing that he didn't murder her brother, while Beth wants nothing to do with him.