"Tom ... gazed out at the mountains that ringed Elk Valley. Ida followed his look. At the moment the surrounding peaks felt like a cage."
Chapter 2, p. 14

"Ida ... marched past the little kids playing on the teeter-totter. Just up and down, she thought. Going nowhere. Suppose if I'm not going to graduate, I won't be going anywhere either."
Ibid, p. 15

"'Look, your legs weren't long enough to reach your car pedals, right? So you figured how to get Felix to work them ... same thing here. Just have to find a way. And the way is, you be our teacher.'"
Ibid, p. 18 - Tom.

"She liked to imagine different pictures for the grain patterns. It always soothed her. One night it was a map. Another time it was secret writing. Sometimes it was even music. Tonight it was the road to school."
Chapter 3, p. 23

"'If you want to try...