Back when I was with my family – maybe hours or even days ago, who knows – we worked hard to hold each other up.”
-- French (chapter 1)

Importance: French is in the facility, and he is struggling to remain calm because he knows the dangers of falling apart.

There had never been someone who had moved him the way Rose did, who had reminded him that life in this apocalypse was more than just survival, or at least it could be.”
-- French (chapter 2)

Importance: Many of the people are caught up in their desperation to survive, but French makes the point that there is more to life than just continuing to live.

And then, when they tossed us into boarding schools to kill the Indian in the child … well, then we had to hide them so we wouldn't just shrivel up. So, we'd still fight for the things that made us who we are.”
-- French's Mom (9 )

Importance: This situation shows the...