How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"What does it say on the back?" Brooke asked. Frank flipped it around. It said knock 'em dead. Frank clutched the bag and waited for us to decide if we wanted to use it or not. (9.77)
Dark humor strikes again (bowling pun semi-intended). Little details like the inscription on the back of Brooke's bowling bag are what make this book absolutely hilarious in spite of its disturbing content.
Quote #5
An enormous crow sat on the window ledge and started back at her. Crows were ambiguous creatures. Many saw them as ill omens, some as omens of change […] This particular crow, however, gave her a bit of the willies. (12.103-104)
Crows are big when it comes to death imagery, so it makes sense that Sam's mom would be slightly unnerved by the Arnold Schwarzenegger of black birds. For more on this, check out the "Symbols" section.
Quote #6
Yanking me over to a small easel, Lilly began to flip pages and tell me about her friends. She introduced them to me like they were important, like she didn't get to talk about them much. I took a good look at Lilly's friends. Something seemed off. When Haley was little, she'd drawn out pets, our family, and her friends, which were usually kids we knew or stuffed animals. Lilly's friends all looked like adults. (16.66)
What is it about stories where kids can see dead people that freaks folks out so much? We don't know for sure, but Lilly definitely joins the list of strange, paranormally advanced children in literature and cinema. Let's just hope her head doesn't spin around as she vomits pea soup.