Did you see my guest post on this topic over at Justine's blog?  Well, when I say in the comments that different people bring different "tools" to the critique process, THIS is what I'm talking about:

I do not want to give away too much of the plot, but Elliott not only lets the reader explore what it means to be a black girl in 2001 Brooklyn, she also asks what this means in 1863 Brooklyn. She also explores how whiteness in the 1860s New York differs from whiteness in 2001, educating her...