Take a story's temperature by studying its tone. Is it hopeful? Cynical? Snarky? Playful?
Smart and Sassy
Because Three Times Lucky is told entirely from Mo LoBeau's perspective, the tone is decidedly spunky. Mo has an opinion on everyone… and she usually says what she thinks. For example, her description of Anna Celeste lets readers know right away that she is not a fan of the girl:
Anna Celeste Simpson—blond hair, brown eyes, perfect smile—became my Sworn Enemy for Life our first day of kindergarten. (3.50)
Mo's voice pervades the book, giving readers entertaining, smart, and sassy insights from a self-proclaimed amateur detective. This keeps things fun to read, no matter how dark the subject matter gets.