Point of View

The novel is written using a limited third-person point of view. An unseen narrator is telling the story of Mafatu’s adventures. Only Mafatu’s thoughts and feelings are known to the reader through this point of view, not that of any other character. This approach allows readers to empathize more strongly with Mafatu as he goes through his trials and comes out stronger on the other side.

Setting

The setting for the novel is a group of Polynesian islands in the South Pacific. Hikueru is the home of Mafatu’s people, brave fishermen and warriors. It is a mostly flat island with sparse plant life. Mafatu travels across the ocean to another island, which is not named. This island has a dormant volcano at its center, surrounded by lush jungle. A large variety of plants and animals are found there. It is also the...