In "Bird Bones and Wood Ash," de Lint employs alternating narrative perspectives, one from the first-person point of view of Jaime, the "I" of the narrative. This perspective has Jaime commenting on herself, her feelings, and her observations of others.

The other narrative voice is third-person omniscient, meaning a point of view that allows the narrator to describe anything in the story, even the thoughts of the characters. The result of this is very effective because it creates a powerful irony: The thirdperson narrator is merciless in its description of events, letting its audience in on Jaime's slow breakdown even as she gives breakdowns to others.

De Lint's borrowing motifs from comic books is likely to appeal to many young readers of "Bird Bones and Wood Ash."

Jaime cuts quite a figure in her costume: I used to laugh at the comic books Annie would read...