Framed!

“My name is Florian Bates. I’m twelve years old and a seventh grader at Alice Deal Middle School in Washington, DC. My two favorite foods are pizza and egg rolls. I’m on the student council, I’m in the Scrabble club, and I plan to try out for soccer. I also work for the FBI.”

This introduction of the protagonist sets a wry, humorous tone and establishes Florian as a boy who manages to be both normal and exceptional. The facts that Florian lists mark him as a fairly typical boy of his age group, for they are everyday things that a 12-year-old would value. These facts are therefore designed to create a jarring contrast with the final sentence, and Florian’s declaration that he works with the FBI is meant to raise a myriad of questions that can only be answered by reading the rest of the novel.

“Becoming a detective wasn’t something I meant to do. It just sort of happened because I notice things other people don’t. My brain’s weird that way. It spots details that seem insignificant and snaps them together like puzzle pieces.”

In this passage, Florian’s tone is both matter-of-fact and humble. The character downplays his genius in an attempt to make his skills seem less intimidating. By crafting Florian’s narration in this way, James Ponti strives to create the impression that Florian’s skills are potentially attainable for anyone who dedicates time and effort to mastering his methods. Thus, his Holmesian air is mitigated by his willingness to share his knowledge with others. The straightforward explanation exhibited here implies that Florian is on an equal footing with his readers rather than having intellectual superiority over them.