I knew from stories how my parents had ridden in a stolen van to Loose River in the early eighties, how my father had stockpiled rifles and pot, and how, when the commune fell apart, my mother had traded whatever hippie fanaticism she had left for Christianity.”
-- Linda (chapter 1 paragraph 32)

Importance: This is the first look at Linda's home life and her family's lifestyle choices. She is under few illusions about her parents, but she does come to realize that they have depths she does not understand.

That's the word I kept hearing in the halls, 'kiss,' and there was something all the more perverse in this, as if she couldn't bring herself to name anything more explicit.”
-- Linda (chapter 5 paragraph 7)

Importance: Linda is talking about Lily, the girl at the center of rumors at school related to a relationship between Lily and Mr. Grierson. This relationship soon captured Linda's attention and it remained with her throughout...