How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
When I looked up, he was sitting there holding out the newspaper to me. "Read this," he said. "Without prejudice."
[…] I shoved the newspaper in the bottom drawer of my desk. Like I needed to know any more about Juli Baker. (3.65, 67)
Bryce's Granddad loves the story about Juli in the newspaper. But Bryce… well, he has different feelings. So Granddad Loski wants Bryce to try to see Juli in a different light. Check out how Granddad didn't just tell Bryce to read the article but to do so "without prejudice." It seems like Granddad predicts that Bryce is already biased against Juli—and so far, it looks like Bryce isn't moving past his prejudices one bit.
Quote #2
My grandfather's quiet for a minute, then asks, "Do you know why the Bakers haven't fixed up the yard until now?"
"Why? Sure. They're trash, that's why. They've got a beat-up house, two beat-up cars, and a beat-up yard."
"They are not trash, Rick. They are good, honest, hardworking people—"
"Who have absolutely no pride in how they present themselves to the rest of the world. We've lived across the street from those people for over six years, and there is no excuse for the state they're in." (7.80-83)
Mr. Loski has some strong assumptions about the Bakers—and they're all based on looks. He doesn't like that they don't have a pretty house or yard. But he's not just judgmental—he also does his fair share of name-calling. Take a look at how Mr. L calls the Bakers "trash" and "those people." Now those are some mean phrases that let us know Mr. L is not about to get over his biases easily.
Quote #3
My grandfather looks at him for a minute, then quietly says, "Juli's father has a retarded brother, and—"
My father interrupts him with a laugh. "Well, that explains a lot, doesn't it!"
"Explains…a lot?" my grandfather asks. Quietly. Calmly.
"Sure! It explains why those people are the way they are…!" He grins around the table at us.
"Must run in the family." Everyone looks at him. Lynetta's jaw drops, and for once she's speechless. My mother says, "Rick!" but all my father can do is laugh a nervous kind of laugh and say, "It was just a joke! I mean, obviously something's wrong with those people." (7.86-90)
Whoa—Mr. Loski just took his prejudices to a whole new level. Before he was being biased against the Bakers because of their messy yard, but now he's making jokes about the family because Juli has a disabled uncle. Check out everyone's reactions—they seem pretty horrified to us. And pretty surprised, too.