Finally

“I sort of fade into whatever background I’m next to, like a chameleon.”

Rory’s simile comparing herself to a chameleon indicates that she feels less significant because of her tendency to blend into the background and not draw attention to herself—like an animal renowned for hiding in plain sight rather than a full-fledged human being. At this point in the novel, she does not see that this ability is her strength, not her weakness.

“Wonderland and Narnia have about as much in common with Willow Falls as a duck has with, well, something really different from a duck.”

Rory’s declaration that Willow Falls lacks magical qualities is characteristic of her comical narrative voice. The unexpected humor of “well, something really different from a duck” amusingly contradicts the expectation of a clever comparison set up by the beginning of the sentence. For readers of the entire series, her comment is also full of dramatic irony: More magic exists in the setting of Willow Falls than Rory knows at this point.

“Poor Mom and Dad. They’re not handling this impending birthday very well. It’s going to be almost as big a change for them as it will be for me.”

Rory’s comments about her parents demonstrate an empathy and understanding far beyond her years. This characterizes her as a caring person and loving daughter, and also foreshadows the story’s later revelations about her having The Gift of Really Seeing Others.