The author uses a combination of first and third person perspectives throughout the novel. For much of the novel, the narrator simply writes the words of individuals involved in the war as they are spoken, providing the reader with a first person perspective of the war against the zombies, as well as of the horrors of war. These stories show the best and worst of the characters as their own words show their true personalities. This point of view is important to the novel since one of the most important themes is the human response to war. There could not be the dramatic impact of the war, or its consequences, if not for the first person thoughts and emotions of these characters. Additionally, because the individuals recounting their experiences are presented in first person, the reader is given a distinct feeling of authenticity, making their experiences all the more moving.