Chapter 1, p. 7
She wrapped up his stamp collection and painted wooden Indian he had won with the long headdress he had won at the Sacramento State Fair. She pulled out the Joe Palooka comic books from under his bead. She emptied the drawers. Some of his clothes—the clothes he would need—she left out for him to put into his suitcase later. She placed his baseball glove on his pillow.

Chapter 1, p. 13
She was ten years old and she knew what she liked. Boys and black licorice and Dorothy Lamour. Her favorite song on the radio was "Don't Fence Me In." She adored her pet macaw. She went to the bookcase and took down Birds of America. She balanced the book on her head and walked slowly, her spine held erect, up the stairs to her room.

Chapter 2, p. 25
The girl had always lived in...