In Tar Beach, time doesn't move forward in the usual way. Instead, time is wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey, Doctor Who-style.
See, at the beginning of the story, it seems like Cassie is looking back, telling us about a memory. In the middle of the story, it seems like she's living in the present. By the end, she's telling us what will happen in the future. These shifts are all very subtle, but we're here to help you crack the code.
Just don't ask us what time it is.
Questions About Memory and the Past
- Which events in the story truly happened? Which events happen only in Cassie's imagination?
- Which New York City landmark opened on the same day as Cassie's birthday?
- How might the story be different if it were set in the present day instead of in the 1930s?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Cassie is remembering Tar Beach as an adult looking back on her childhood.
Cassie is remembering Tar Beach as a child; it's set in her recent past.