Point of View

Scattered All Over the Earth is narrated in first person and past tense by five main characters — Knut, Hiruko, Tenzo/Nanook, Nora, and Susanoo — in alternating chapters. These characters have distinct perspectives based on characteristics like their ethnic/cultural backgrounds, but they merge collectively to pursue a common goal. This melding of perspectives is an intrinsic part of the novel's theme of multiculturalism. Despite their differences, these characters understand, respect, and care for one another.

Though they pursue common goals, each character also has their own personal motivations, which are made clear through the first-person narrations. Knut, for instance, has a difficult relationship with his mother, while Akash has romantic interest in Knut, which he does not reveal until the end of the novel. Hiruko is grieving for her country of origin, which has disappeared, while Tenzo/Nanook is attempting to make a life for...