To me, I just like to win. I only wanna win. Anything else is … false. Fake.”
-- Patina (chapter 1)

Importance: Patina has just come in second, and she is so angry about it that she fails to support her teammates for the rest of the race. Over the course of this novel, she learns the importance of being part of the team, regardless of her own feelings.

Something to remind us that even though life with Momly and Uncle Tony is good, Ma is who we are. Where we from. Blood.”
-- Patina (2 )

Importance: Patina is talking about the rituals they have when they pick up Bev for church each Sunday morning. “Momly” is Emily, who is basically filling the role of an adoptive mother in Patina's life. Patina feels it is important that she and Maddy remain connected to Bev because she is their biological mother.

It's like a rich kid obstacle course, and once I...
-- Patina (3 )