Her mother always said that they’d stay, but they never did.”
-- Narrator (chapter 2 paragraph 28)

Importance: The quote illustrates the transient nature of Ada and Pepper's lives and indicates that Pepper would like to stay in one place.

Something roared and thumped. The river. It sounded like it was in the room.”
-- Narrator (chapter 4 paragraph 11)

Importance: The quote demonstrates the powerful presence of the river and how it demands attention.

Pearl endured the rain all night. The kind that wore away at her bones. Battered, huddled on her rock, each drop seeping in until she was doused.”
-- Narrator (chapter 9 paragraph 59)

Importance: The quote shows the power over Pearl and her experience in the river.

She looked in the empty compartment one more time and tried to remember all the things she’d taken pictures of but she couldn’t, they were lost, and she couldn’t even look for them because they had never really existed.”
-- Narrator (chapter 15 paragraph 56)

Importance: The quote demonstrates Pepper's isolation. Because...