Amelia had never been in trouble in her entire life. Her teachers called her a delight-bright, creative, thoughtful, focused.
-- Kate (Kate: October 24 paragraph 21)

Importance: This quote not only begins to introduce Amelia's character to the reader, but it also underscores her mother's surprise at being told her daughter was caught cheating at school.

She was a terrible, terrible mother. It was too much, juggling her job and parenting by herself. She had no margin for error.
-- Kate (Kate; October 24 paragraph 59)

Importance: This quote illustrates Kate's doubts in her own parenting ability. Kate made the conscious choice to have a child out of wedlock and to not let it interfere with her pursuit of a successful legal career, but these choices fill her with guilt especially in light of the fact that her daughter was caught cheating at school.

I love my mom, but she gets most of her ideas about how to be a mom from other moms. Pretty much...
-- Amelia (Amelia: September 14 paragraph 3)