… outsiders always want something from Madagascar. The emotion is always the same, whatever the thing desired: whether to establish the country as a locus for fabulous legends … as a source for gemstones, rare butterflies, rosewood, spices, slaves; or as fertile ground to produce sugar … or even – as Hitler once planned - as a convenient penal colony for the exiled Jews of Europe.
-- Narration   (“The Packet War” )

Importance: This quote establishes and defines the essential mindset of the book's central characters, Shay and Senna. For Senna, Madagascar becomes a resource of people and money to exploit and manipulate. More importantly, for Shay it becomes a place of refuge, of safety, and of comfort. It is also a place where she feels free to reinforce her sense of privilege. The irony is that while Senna gets what he wants from the island, Shay gets exactly the opposite. As a result of her experiences on Madagascar, she is...