Grace Somerfield was the first to die. The first in my fourth grade class, at least.
-- Ruby (Chapter 1 paragraph 1)

Importance: The author has obviously crafted the first sentence of chapter one to capture the reader’s attention, and it works well. The story goes on to give some details about the disease that’s killing children, how Grace drops dead at school, and how Ruby and the others react to it.

The government was never scared of the kids who might die, or the empty spaces they would leave behind. They were afraid of us - the ones who lived.
-- Ruby (Chapter 1 paragraph 35)

Importance: The disease, known as IAAN, kills many of the children who contract it. It also leaves children who survive with supernatural powers and the adults are afraid of them from the first.

When a PSF had escorted us to our new residence, it had been with several warnings: no talking after lights out, no...
-- Ruby (Chapter 3 paragraph 4)