Maybe that’s why the poem comes sweeping in that very first night at ASG.
-- Narrator (Chapter 1 paragraph 19)

Importance: Although Emily has never really been inspired to write poetry before, she suddenly cannot stop the poetry that creates itself in her mind once she begins attending ASG.

That’s the thing, though; Emily isn’t so sure. A story gets told one too many times and facts melt away like pats of butter.
-- Narrator (Chapter 2 paragraph 9)

Importance: When her aunt criticizes her for commenting that she doesn’t want to watch a movie that has taken place in a school library, she tells Emily she’s old enough to separate fact from fiction. Emily realizes, however, that many stories have been divorced from the facts simply because they have been told too often.

Hey, what do you know?’ Paul said. ‘I opened right to a poem about a gun.
-- Paul Wagoner (Chapter 2 paragraph 50)

Importance: When Paul confronts Emily in the library, he opens...