If you ever have trouble believing in heaven, kids, just look at the starts and you’ll see it for yourself.
-- Bob’s father (Chapter 1 paragraph Page 9, paragraph 3)

Importance: Bob’s alcoholic father was frail and not in good health when he gave Bob and the Rat this advice.

I never knew what caused his sadness and he never talked about it. All I knew was that something pained him and he drank to drown the pain.
-- Bob (Chapter 2 paragraph Page 27, paragraph 6)

Importance: Bob expressed his anguish over his father’s depression and alcoholism.

There’s a man, and he’s surrounded by tall buildings. He tells me he’s going to look after me and he keeps me somewhere safe, like a castle, and he reads to me all the time.
-- The Rat (Chapter 4 paragraph Page 55, paragraph 5)

Importance: The Rat tells White Cloud about her dream which is what compeled her to run away to New York to look for her protector among the tall buildings.

I loved Dad and...
-- The Rat (Chapter 5 paragraph Page 77, paragraph 4)