Color of Water

. The voice pattern in this novel closely transforms from James to his mother. It seems as if McBride uses this voice pattern to tell the story of James and his mother at the same age, and times of their lives. One advantage that is gained from this voice pattern is that it follows a unique order which informs you of the past, so that you will understand the future. One disadvantage that is gained from this voice pattern is that McBride does not stick to one topic. Throughout the novel he often jumps back and forth in time without any relation to the topic.

2. The answers that McBride’s mother gave him when he was a kindergartner asking questions about why she did not look like the other mothers were very blunt. She also always indirectly answered his questions by telling him she was “light-skinned”, or just lighter than her kids were. She also informed James that it didn’t matter what others thought or said the most important issue that he should worry about was his education.

3.In chapters 13-16, McBride and his mother faced many difficulties, which may have suggested the possibility of running away. In chapter 13, Ruth became pregnant which caused a major problem. In chapter 14, James began to do poorly in