Point of View

The novel is narrated in the first person and the past tense. Zelda is the sole narrator and point-of-view character in the novel. Because the book is filtered entirely through Zelda’s perspective, the narration reflects Zelda’s ways of observing and thinking about the world. For example, Zelda is deeply interested in the history and culture of Vikings, and so she often considers the world and her own life through the lens of Viking culture. In addition, Zelda technically has cognitive disabilities, which affect her behaviors and the things upon which she focuses. However, Zelda is fairly high-functioning, and a central concept of the novel is that people with disabilities can still be relatable and independent. Thus, although her neurology affects her thought patterns, her thoughts and emotions will still be relatable to a wide array of readers.

Another effect of these perspectival dynamics...