What do you suppose Margaret Peterson's Haddix's writing style is?

Question

I know she does flashbacks a slight foreshadowing. Did I miss anything?

Answer 1

It would depend what books you're talking about. She has used flashbacks in some of her novels...as well as foreshadowing...but what I would say is characteristic of ALL of her novels are her ethical themes or questioning.

Every book seems to be a presentation or an opportunity to think and react and decide and debate what is and is not ethical in any given situation. For example, in TURNABOUT and RUNNING OUT OF TIME and ESCAPE FROM MEMORY and DOUBLE IDENTITY her books could be said to have a bioethical theme. What science/medicine/technology COULD do...vs...what they SHOULD do. A lot of times, these decisions are beyond the control of the main characters. Their current situation/circumstance could be the result of someone else's "unethical" decision at some time past...(beit ten years ago or fifty years ago) but they're left with the consequences of dealing with it on a day to day basis. What all of her novels have in common is the fact that they make you THINK and question some hard issues.
I would say her books are equally about how characters react. In a lot of her books the characters have no control over the situation. They may be vulnerable or weak or not in a position to change or solve anything. In the shadow books in particular, these children have no power or control to change their government. There is nothing that they did to cause that situation. The circumstances are beyond their control. Yet despite their lack of power or authority or know-how in some instances, each makes a conscience decision to act and behave and believe in such a way. They are very self-aware. They react and think in such a way that is often wise beyond their young years. Her style is thought-provoking. I have never failed to be moved by her novels. Each one makes me THINK about the world differently. The characters stay with me. I put myself in their shoes. I ask questions. It is almost an interactive experience for me to read Haddix.