How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Too many kids in this family, that's what. Just too many." James stood fuming on the landing like a small angry locomotive […] "You'd think this house was big enough, but there's always people." (1.3)
The opening of the book tells us just how jam-packed the Stanton household is. Will's brother James tells us that there are too many people everywhere he looks. With six siblings, two parents, and a bunch of livestock, we can see what he means. But it's also just in jest—this family loves each other at the end of the day.
Quote #2
It was the day when the delight of Christmas really took fire in the Stanton family. Hints and glimmerings and promises of special things, which had flashed in and out of life for weeks before, now suddenly blossomed into a constant glad expectancy. The house was full of wonderful baking smells from the kitchen. (5.1)
Christmas Eve is full of traditions for the Stantons. They love Christmas Eve and they spend it singing carols and eating sweets. It's important for us to see Will at home living a normal life so we can compare it to the wacky and magical world of the Old Ones.
Quote #3
"That was Tom," his mother said. "I don't really know why I've never spoken to you younger ones about Tom. It was just so long ago... Tom was your little brother who died. He had something wrong with his lungs, a disease some new babies get, and he only lived for three days after he was born." (5.48)
Will's mom tells him about a brother of his named Tom who died. Farmer Dawson had already made him a Christmas ornament, though, and they never got rid of it. This sad tale makes Will feel closer to his family and want to protect his mom from any more heartache.