Content Warning: This section of the guide includes quotations from the source text that feature derogatory terms for people who have physical disabilities.

“Harrison admired the NFL football player, battered and exhausted but unstoppable. Harrison knew about being battered and exhausted, not by the game, but by life.”

This quote foreshadows Harrison’s aspirations and the novel’s exploration of recognition and achievement. The dynamic language (“roared,” “urging,” “deeds of greatness”) creates a sense of excitement and admiration, reflecting Harrison’s longing for a sense of belonging and success.

“The crowd roared […] urging the player and his teammates on to deeds of greatness.”

This quote foreshadows Harrison’s aspirations and the novel’s exploration of recognition and achievement. The dynamic language (“roared,” “urging,” “deeds of greatness”) creates a sense of excitement and admiration, reflecting Harrison’s longing for a sense of belonging and success.

“‘You got chores. You don’t watch.’ Mr. Constable raised a fist to prove it.”

 This harsh moment establishes the oppressive environment to which Harrison is subjected on the Constables’ farm. The terse, authoritative dialogue strikes a tone of casual contempt that demonstrates Mr. Constable’s domineering and abusive nature. The raised fist symbolizes the constant threat of violence that Harrison endures, and the volatile and unpredictable nature of the exchange paints a vivid picture of the teen’s living conditions and sets the tone for his broader quest to overcome abuses of his early life.