The novel develops chronologically from the omniscient narrator's point of view, shifting easily to a character's inner thoughts. In a few episodes, the author uses flashback and exposition.

Except for a smattering of Native American words and western dialect, the diction is simple. The book features numerous descriptions of nature and liberal use of similes.

The most remarkable stylistic passages are the translations of Native American poetry and chants, used largely in ceremonies and rituals. Through repetition and balance, these passages achieve a tone of incantation. They represent an effort to capture the Navajo outlook on life and often demonstrate the way that Native Americans deal with crises.