Real power, in prison and in high school, doesn’t come from telling people when to do what. Real power is the ability to get the inmates what they want – things they aren’t supposed to have – which happens to be a particular talent of mine.
-- Jesse (Prologue paragraph 3)

Importance: These words are spoken in the narration and give Jesse the opportunity to explain who he is and what he does. Jesse is describing his influence, his “sway”, and the abilities he describes in this section form the backdrop for everything he does in the novel.

Between brokering term papers, getting juvenile delinquents kicked out of school, and delivering party favors for keggers like Ken’s, I barely had time to think. Not thinking was the ultimate goal.
-- Jesse (chapter 2 paragraph Final)

Importance: Although Jesse is hugely successful at what he does, this quotation from the narration demonstrates that he doesn’t do it for money or because he...