Point of View

Candace is the novel’s protagonist and narrator, and thus the narration is written in the first person. For the most part, the narration is written in the past tense. However, beginning in Chapter 19, the narration uses the present tense whenever it recounts Candace's post-apocalypse experiences, thereby giving a further sense of urgency to Candace's escape from the Facility. Because Candace is the narrator, the novel is written entirely from Candace’s point of view. The novel seeks to explore the dynamics and forces that shape Candace’s personality and worldview, such as her willingness to prioritize job security over personal fulfillment. As the novel progresses, the reader becomes more aware of things that lie outside of Candace’s perspective. For example, when Candace continues to work at Spectra following the beginning of a mass desertion of new York City, the reader becomes aware of...