What is the author's tone in the nonfiction book, What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia?

As a reflection of her academic background, Catte’s style is largely formal – she writes in clean, academic prose that steadily builds up a refutation of Vance’s argument. Since the book is geared toward the general public, it is not as rigidly structured as an academic essay, in that Catte interjects the arc of her argument by way of telling anecdotes, personal experiences, or relaying her opinions regarding information she uncovered while doing her research for the book. The combination of a formal structure and personal feel of the book makes for more engaging experience for the reader, as the book lacks the narrative detachment often found in works of historical nonfiction. In this way, Catte’s tone is casual and without pomp, and uniquely for a work of historical nonfiction, she lets the reader into her emotive responses toward whatever she talks about.