At the 4th flight Lila did something unexpected. She stopped to wait for me, and when I reached her she gave me her hand. This gestures changed everything between us forever.
-- Elena (chapter 1 paragraph 3)

Importance: This quote is important because it happens early in the story, when two young, lonely girls that cement their friendship during a scary point in their lives. They grip hands to do the scary thing together, and throughout the novel Elena and Lila stay best friends in their own way.

Adults, waiting for tomorrow, move in a present behind which is yesterday or the day before yesterday or at most last week: they don't want to think about the rest. Children don't know the meaning of yesterday, of the day before yesterday, or even of tomorrow. Everything is this, now: the street is this, the doorway is this, the stairs are this, this is Mamma, this is Papa, this...
-- Elena (chapter 2 paragraph 4)