Who is the narrator, can she or he read minds, and, more importantly, can we trust her or him?
First Person (Central Narrator)
When you see the word "I" all over the place, it's a very good sign you're dealing with a first-person narrator.
Our narrator, Cassie, even introduces herself, so we know exactly who's talking. (How polite!)
I can fly—yes, fly. Me, Cassie Louise Lightfoot… (10)
Pleased to meet you, Cassie Louise.
First-person narrators have a magical way of drawing you into their story, because it's the literary equivalent of sitting around talking to someone. While Tar Beach is really for readers of all ages, the book's target audience just happens to be kids who are around Cassie's age.
If you think that's a coincidence, think again. The author is using Cassie to make a special connection with her youngest readers.