"With the other knife, he stabbed a five-page letter onto Theo's chest. The letter was addressed to me" (Introduction, p. xi).

"This is the story of my life. It is a subjective record of my own personal memories, as close to accurate as I can make them; my relationship with the rest of my family has been so fractured that I cannot now refresh these recollections by asking for help" (Introduction, p. xii).

"I had fantasized a father who would understand me, know that I was trying to be good. Now here was that man" (Chapter 3, p. 44).

"The evil unbelievers lived there, but we had no choice" (Chapter 3, p. 54).

"Ken asked, 'How do you feel about me?' and I said, 'I really like you.' He said he really liked me, too, and we started to kiss" (Chapter 5, p. 83).

"I mumbled no, and let him get on...