Sasha's Shift

Egan’s non chronological strategy through the perspective of various characters throughout the book, causes a shift in judgement of Sasha’s character.
Sasha was the first character introduced in the book, who had a stealing “condition”. It thrilled her “[to] accept the challenge [and] fly the coop” rather than ignoring the opportunity at hand. Sasha’s introduction causes the reader to feel pity for her. Its obvious that she has issues and is hanging onto her youth by a thread because she lies on her dating profiles and says that she is 28, but she is actually 35. In chapter 11, Goodbye My Love, the reader is more exposed to Sasha’s experiences. She ran away with her boyfriend and ended up in Italy, where her uncle Ted was sent to find her. He found her buying cigarettes and brought her to dinner, but Ted’s perspective of Sasha causes a sense of distrust. Sasha was lost to him and “as he reached for his wallet and found it gone, did he realize that she’d robbed him.” From a more personal perspective of Sasha to her uncle’s, the reader doesn’t want to dislike her, but there is some skepticism. Towards the end of the book, Sasha’s character has come full circle. In chapter 12, Great Rock n Roll pauses, the reader sees Sasha in the eyes of her daughter. It becomes clear in the powerpoint that Sasha is a good mother who understands the world and her children. Her daughter appreciates the fact that that she can relate to Lincoln’s love for pauses in songs. Sasha has completely evolved into a role model, “She looks like someone I want to know, or maybe even be.”
The three different, nonlinear perspectives of Sasha allow the reader to formulate judgments on her throughout the entire book, primarily as pity, then distrust, but eventually maturing as a responsible adult.