How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
There's some stuff I don't understand about this accident—like why it happened and why Robbie had to die and why I didn't die. Mama keeps huggin' me, sayin', "Praise the Lord" and stuff like that. But what about Robbie's mama? What is she saying? (5.1)
B.J.'s prayer says it all: His mom is grateful that B.J. is alive, but Robbie's mom doesn't get to be thankful. He realizes that even though the accident was a miracle for him, it was awful for Robbie's family since he died.
Quote #2
Last week I learned that kids my age could die. That was the most frightening experience I ever had. A boy that I knew real well, that sat next to me in study hall, died in a car crash. (6.1)
Rhonda's essay assignment asks her about her most terrifying moment, and not surprisingly, it is about the accident. We see that she's torn up about Robbie's death, as well as about the idea that anyone her age can die.
Quote #3
In addition, we have family and friends that care about us and we have the hope of a bright future. And, because we have learned that death is close by and can touch us, we must give thanks for the simplest and greatest blessing of all—life. (6.16)
In the school newspaper, the students are reminded to be thankful, especially since it's Thanksgiving. We'd like to point out that high school students aren't usually thinking about the value of life, but when one of their own dies, they are forced to suddenly.
Quote #4
With a five-dollar bill, Andy and the guys bought a six-pack of beer. They ended up buying five dollars worth of death. It seems like all a five spot can do is buy trouble, so I'd get rid of five-dollar bills. (9.4)
Gerald's essay on what he would change about the world shows us just how fragile life is—he wishes he could change the people in his little corner of the world so he wouldn't have to suffer so much. Remember, he was supposed to be in the car accident, too, but went home instead.
Quote #5
Suppose it's more than just thinkin' about death in general. Suppose I told you I sometimes think about killin' myself. (20.37)
Andy doesn't try to hide his suicidal thoughts. In fact, he's really open about the fact that he doesn't see the point in living sometimes. It's tragic, because he doesn't get the help he needs to confront those demons.
Quote #6
"It seems like bein' dead is the only way I'll ever feel alive again. Does that make sense?" (20.44)
Nope, it doesn't actually—for Andy, though, death is a way out, an escape. He thinks he'll feel better when he's dead because he won't have to deal with his guilt any more. The only trouble is, he's leaving a lot of people behind in the same mess he's in right now.
Quote #7
I'm having a rough time with Andy. I think it's because he lost his best friend and it's hard for him to get over the guilt and the pain. He once told me that his life had lost its meaning. (26.5)
Keisha's essay shares facts about Andy with us that we don't hear him say directly—her insights show us just how down and out he really is. Andy doesn't only want to kill himself at the end; he talks about death throughout the entire novel, foreshadowing what he's about to do.
Quote #8
Remember right after the accident when we realized we wasn't going to die? In spite of all that noise and fire and death, we looked at each other, and real quick like, we smiled. You know why? Cause we were alive. And we were glad. (44.1)
Tyrone's letter to Andy reminds us that they were once glad to be alive. Making it out of the accident was a big deal for them, but Andy only thought about the pain he felt afterward. Now if only Andy could somehow get this letter…
Quote #9
You can't be dead. But I went to your funeral. I felt your coffin. It was warm and woody, but you couldn't have been in it. I wanted to open it, to knock and call out your name, but I didn't dare. I went to the cemetery. I kept thinking, Everybody here is dead… they're all dead! Thousands and thousands of dead people—people who would never come back. And then I really did call out your name, and I finally cried. I wept for you—because you weren't supposed to be with all these dead people, because you can't, you just can't be dead. (44.14)
Keisha's letter is a lot tougher. She's hard on Andy for taking his life because she was there for him when no one else was. She points out how gut-wrenching the funeral experience was for her, and shines light on the fact that death isn't an escape; it's messy and tough to deal with.
Quote #10
He just couldn't cope. The whole idea of death terrified him. (45.4)
B.J.'s prayer tells us about an Andy we never really get to meet—the one before the accident. He tells us that Andy used to be afraid of death and funerals. We guess he wasn't so scared of them anymore since the accident.