Accidents happen. Ginger knew this better than most.
-- Narrator (Prologue)

Importance: Here, the narrator explains that Ginger is worried about her daughter, Julia. She worries that Julia will somehow die or injure herself in a freak accident on their college trip. Ginger has lived her life since childhood by routine and schedule, always seeking certainty following the accident that took Charlie’s life when they were all young, and having relied on routine and order with her mother.

Thirteen was an unlucky year. And not just for her. Ginger could feel it, bad luck was coming for them all.
-- Narrator (Chapter 3)

Importance: Ginger believes that her thirteenth year alive will mean bad luck for all of her family. For example, not only does she not get her own room, but Glory must vacuum up Charlie and Callie’s knocked-over ant farm, killing all the ants.

The sand was the same everywhere. Flat, everywhere. Flat as ice...
-- Narrator (Chapter 18)