McFadden uses several literary techniques and recurring motifs to build tension:
The narrative revolves around three main characters whose lives are inextricably linked by a previous school scandal: who was forced to resign.
: The story switches between Eve and Addie, providing contrasting views of the same events and keeping the reader guessing about the "real" truth. who was forced to resign.
: A high school math teacher who appears to have a stable life and a handsome husband, Nate. who was forced to resign.
: A troubled junior student ostracized after a rumored affair with a former teacher, Arthur Tuttle, who was forced to resign.