I thought surely we would be going home soon, and my family would all be together again. That was wishful thinking.”
-- Sandra (chapter 1 paragraph N/A)

Importance: Sandra and her family were living in a refugee camp when she had this thought. The final sentence about wishful thinking is foreshadowing that they will not all be together again. Immediately after this, Sandra describes the massacre in which more than 160 people died, including her youngest sister, Deborah.

War was part of our everyday life. There was always a new rebellion, a new battle.”
-- Sandra (chapter 2 paragraph N/A)

Importance: Sandra described the attitudes of life in her childhood, in addition to describing the people and events. The constant threat of war was one of the prevailing fears.

My parents sheltered me from many of the civil war images that surfaced on TV. I didn't really understand war, because my parents did such a good job protecting me from it.”
-- Sandra (chapter 3 paragraph N/A)

Importance: Sandra was describing her...