Most girls my age idolize their sixteen-year-old sisters, but Camille is my cocaptain in our family's survival. She's the only person in my life who's totally transparent, and we need each other too much for any sisterly mystique to exist.”
-- Regina (chapter 1 paragraph NA)

Importance: Regina is introducing her siblings and describing their situation shortly before she was taken from Cookie for the final time. The fact that she and Camille were “cocaptains in our family's survival” makes it clear that the children were taking care of the family because Cookie was not a responsible parent or caregiver.

We have a strict system of purchasing anything we need that won't fit in our clothes. Camille slides Kraft cheese slices out of her shorts and takes a thin box of Jiffy muffin mix from her pocket, while I shake two little boxes of Jell-o and pudding mix out of my underwear.”
-- Regina (chapter 2 paragraph NA)

Importance: Regina and Camille have been...