Point of View

The novel is narrated by a collective of omniscient narrators in the second person plural. These voices compose the voices of the various residents of Oak Knoll, or can be interpreted as the voice of the neighborhood itself. The narrators are not explicitly named, and their omniscient knowledge at once reveals both the intimacy of the neighborhood as well as evoking an eerie and ominous tone, implying that everything that occurs within Oak Knoll is monitored by all.

The narrators recount the events of the story in past tense, often referencing later events and the tragedy that will occur by the culmination of the novel. This creates suspense as well as a sense of foreboding. Their commentary often guides the reader’s interpretation of the novel and the opinions of the characters, implying that some characters are more sympathetic than others, and can often feel...