He wanted twelve bars and to be a true bluesman among bluesmen.
-- Clayton (When Cool Papa When)

Importance: This quote signifies Clayton’s true desires, despite his mother’s dislike of blues music. Clayton thinks this to himself while playing harmonica in Washington Square Park with his grandfather, Cool Papa and his blues group called the Bluesmen. Clayton desperately wants a solo and a feature with the Bluesmen, and his grandfather keeps telling him to wait. The twelve bars is a musical reference, signifying the amount of time a soloist would have while playing with the group. This quote sets up the rest of the novel to explain Clayton’s true ambitions, even while facing the unknown.

Look sharp. Be cool.
-- Cool Papa (When Cool Papa When)

Importance: This quote signifies Cool Papa’s lasting piece of advice to Clayton, when Clayton begs to have his solo with the Bluesmen. Williams-Garcia repeats this quote 8 times throughout the novel starting on page 7 (the original...