1) While the protagonist’s previous knowledge of the virus should have been a clue, I love that the main character is learning about his condition and his changed world at the same time as the reader. I’m reminded of the beginning of The Walking Dead; we see Rick wake up from a coma and learn alongside him what has happened to the world.
2) The word choice is significant in the sentence, “His limbs shook as he realized his mom had left him.” By using the word “mom” instead of “mother,” the reader perceives Aiden as younger.
3) I love the way the first page-ish mimics the experience of adolescence. Aiden starts out confused by his body and the changes it has undergone. He is forced to go forward without his parents. He is focused on his individuality and individual experience, but doesn’t realize that he is exactly like everyone else, stumbling along the same streets.
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