How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
Family ties are strong in semirural communities, says we; therefore, and for other reasons, a kidnapping project ought to do better there than in the radius of newspapers that send reporters out in plain clothes to stir up talk about such things. (3)
Sam and Bill's first mistake is the assumption that the only thing they have to fear from their little endeavor is the townsfolk. As we soon discover, Johnny is far from your average kid.
Quote #2
That boy put up a fight like a welterweight cinnamon bear (11)
This should have been the first warning that Johnny might be a more formidable target than they expected. A 10-year old, forty-pound kid who can fight with the voracity of a 140-pound bear? Yeah, that's definitely not normal.
Quote #3
"I like this fine. I never camped out before . . ." (17)
Throughout the story it seems that Johnny simply assumes he's on a camping trip, unaware of any malfeasance concerning his predicament. His blissful ignorance reminds us he's just a kid, and makes Bill and Sam's job a little tougher than they expected.