Read the excerpt from "the sky will not fall." caroline almost smiled, but it was not a smile of amusement or happiness. it was a smile that comes from bottled up emotions of fear and frustration. her chin dropped to her chest, and she let out a sigh. then, softly and steadily, she said. "i know you're hurting and you're frustrated and you want to do more, but you can't. not yet. " she was understanding and gentle, but also firm and strong. which sentence from the excerpt is an example of direct characterization? caroline almost smiled, but it was not a smile of amusement or happiness. she was understanding and gentle, but also firm and strong. "i know you're hurting and you're frustrated and you want to do more, but you can't." her chin dropped to her chest, and she let out a sigh.