And I'm sitting here wondering why my mother won't change the channel
-- Mother (chapter 1)

Importance: The novel begins with the image of news and trauma and the boy's simple perception of the world around him. While he understands quickly that the news and the constant cycle of bad news is a source of stress for his mother, he does not know why it is so difficult for her to turn it off. The image will repeat itself at the beginning of each new section as the boy searches for a way to see the world around him more positively.

to call out and cry out for freedom to live and freedom to laugh
-- Boy (chapter 1)

Importance: The young boy understands the purpose of the protests to be for freedom, but he does not fully know what forms of freedom people are fighting for. To him, the simple pleasures of life are the main focus and his...