comment on structure

Alive is structured in an organized way; however, it lacks traditional chapters. The author includes a dedication written by the survivors, an area for acknowledgments, a list of illustrations, an introduction, and fifteen sections (each with multiple subsections). The acknowledgments are useful in gaining insight with regards to the author's perspective. The illustrations included in the book lend a sense of realism, which gives way to the awe that real people suffered and survived the ordeal. The introduction is captivating and tells just enough to capture the reader's interest. The individual sections are put together more by the occurrence of important events than by chronology. Sections relating to the parents' search alternate with sections dedicated to the survivors' struggle. With the exception of some historical and educational background, the whole novel takes place in a span of just three months (the date of the flight's departure through the interviews following the survivors' return).