Point of View

The novel is written in the third person and the past tense, mostly from Kya’s perspective. The novel occasionally enters the perspectives of other characters, such as that of Sheriff Jackson while he is investigating Chase’s death. However, most of the novel is written from Kya’s perspective. Kya’s emotional arc is very important to her character development and to the novel overall. She first must contend with the abandonment of her family, and then with the task of becoming a self-sufficient child alone in the swamp. Additionally, she must confront ridicule and heartbreak when interacting with people from the outside world and decide whether interpersonal connections are worth the risks. Her continuing relationships with Tate, Jumpin’, and Jodie seem to confirm her persistent belief that some relationships are worth the emotional risks.

The division between Kya’s self-perception and the perception...