Even if it wasn’t enough to bring back his father, the letter was the best thing he’d ever written. It became a turning point in a life that had been unlucky from the start.
-- Narrator (Chapter 1: The subject of the most humiliating criticism paragraph 2)

Importance: This quote is important because it sets up both Alexander’s intelligence and the tragedy of his past. Although the reader has not seen anything before the storm, this quote tells them three important things. One, Alexander’s father was out of the picture. Whether he was dead or left Alexander, the reasons do not matter. It is only important to know that Alexander likely spent most of his life without a father figure. Yet, he was obviously intelligent as he was capable of writing a letter so inspiring it changed his life. Lastly, the author is setting up the rest of the chapter by highlighting the fact that Alexander’s life was unlucky...