Take a story's temperature by studying its tone. Is it hopeful? Cynical? Snarky? Playful?
Somber, Straightforward
Here's the situation: Francisco goes through a ton of rough stuff. We're talking so much rough stuff that almost every life experience he has includes a major downer. So it's no surprise that when Francisco's telling his tale, he's often got a tone that's pretty somber. For instance, when Francisco's new buddy Miguelito doesn't show up for their play date, our main man's bummed attitude comes out in his tone:
When I returned home from school this afternoon, I went to see if he was waiting for me by the creek. He was not there either. Then I remembered his cabin number. I hurried to number twenty and knocked on the door. No one answered. I went around to the side of the cabin and peaked through the window. The cabin was completely empty. My heart sank into my stomach. Slowly I walked home, feeling a lump in my throat. I heard Miguelito's laugh in my head and thought about our game with the puddles. (5.17)
Things sure aren't coming up roses, so Francisco's not about to be chipper as can be. Since he's telling us all about his sinking heart and oodles of disappointments, we know we've got a seriously somber tone afoot.
Even with his sad tone, Francisco doesn't beat around the bush, though. He tackles the tough stuff straight-on, adding a super straightforward element to his tone too. Our head honcho tells us exactly how he's feeling (super sad) and why (missing his friend), so we aren't left wondering what makes him so down in the mouth.