“Something about that van seemed strange to me.”

This quotation captures Sage’s perspective as the bus first turns onto the dirt road, and she notices the white speedy shuttle van. The quotation captures Sage’s keen sense of observation and strong intuition for danger, both of which subsequently become critical to the unfolding of the plot. The observation also begins to build suspense and creates an ominous tone in the novel.

“Because Ms. Jessa just did what they told her to do, like the bad guys were the real grownups in charge now and she was one of us kids.”

This quotation reveals Sage’s growing frustration as she watches Jessa meekly comply with Ted and Andy’s demands. Sage has idealistic expectations of adults and especially authority figures; she thinks that Jessa should be showing courage and leadership in these frightening circumstances. Sage is forced to grapple with the idea of who actually holds power, leading to her eventual embrace of Bravery and Leadership Emerging During Crisis.

“And I moved, suddenly realizing that after Ms. Jessa, I was the closest thing to a grownup here.”

This quotation captures Sage’s increasing sense of responsibility. As the oldest student on the bus (who is also taller than Jessa), Sage occupies a liminal position between childhood and adolescence. The crisis of the kidnapping forces her to assume a sense of responsibility beyond her years. She is at times frightened and at other times empowered by her position of leadership within the group of kidnapped children.

“I wasn’t going to tell them everything would be okay, though. I’d been down that road before.”

Jessa reflects on why she chooses not to comfort the terrified children. While it would seem plausible for her to do so, Jessa’s experiences with her violent ex-husband have prepared her for the worst. Jessa is haunted by memories of comforting her daughter and then realizing that all of her promises were lies.

“Look at me now, though. I was on my way to pulling off the best and biggest heist in Idaho.”

This quotation reveals the motivations that drive Ted. He is haunted by insecurities and memories of his mother’s criticisms. He believes that if he can successfully execute the plan, he will feel impressive and worthy of respect. The quotation shows how Ted’s lack of purpose and the feeling that he is not valued in the world drive him to harm others.

“Kids were rubber bands, I told myself for the hundredth time. They bounced back from shit like this.”

This quotation captures Ted’s growing sense of guilt as he sees how frightened Jessa and the children are. Ted rationalizes his actions because he does not want to accept the magnitude of what he is doing. Since he had a difficult childhood, he is also overly reliant on the belief that children can suffer and emerge unscathed.

“After that, I promised I’d listen to the kids, take more time to listen to my gut.”

Sheena’s father speaks this quotation as he recalls a case he once worked on as a police investigator. Although the cognitive symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s mean that he is not able to fully understand what is happening to his granddaughters, Sheena’s father draws on memories that are connected to The Difficulty of Making High-Stakes Choices and the instincts that children can display. His memory offers a caution as to what can happen when children are dismissed or not trusted.

“She’d be afraid when she found those men with guns waiting for her at the top.”

This quotation captures Jessa’s grim reasoning when she hears Sage retort that a badger would be brave and dig them out of the hole. Jessa’s experiences have left her more pragmatic and more cynical, and she does not agree with Sage’s optimistic plan to fight against their fate. The comment also alludes to the imagery of hunted animals, which appears throughout the novel, especially when Sage is being pursued after escaping from the bunker.

“I didn’t just have to sit here because I was a kid. I didn’t have to listen to the only grownup down here.”

This quotation marks a key turning point in the plot, when Sage resolves to ignore Jessa’s warnings and take action, reflecting Bravery and Leadership Emerging During Crisis. Thanks to Sage’s bravery and defiance, a plan is put into motion that ultimately saves the lives of the entire group. The quotation shows how Sage’s confidence and stubbornness are key character traits that allow her to emerge as the hero of the narrative.

“No, Sage. You were right. I was wrong. I’m sorry. I’m here for you.”

Jessa speaks this quotation to Sage when their roles temporarily reverse. Sage regrets her decision to scratch the paint off the van window, fearing she has endangered everyone. Jessa, who has previously rebuked Sage, now comforts and encourages her. Jessa realizes that Sage’s bravery is their only hope, and admits that she has been wrong to listen to their captors.

“I didn’t want to hit him. I didn’t want to hurt him. It was as if I were watching myself from somewhere outside my body, like in a TV show.”

This quotation captures Jessa’s flashback to her memory of accidentally killing her husband. It clarifies that she acted in self-defense, not unprovoked violence. Jessa did not want to hurt anyone, but she did want to protect herself and her child, invoking The Power of Parental Love and Protectiveness.

“Surely, someone who had gone through the blood, sweat, and pain that even the most cursory kind of motherhood involved couldn’t be completely devoid of empathy, could they?”

This quotation reveals Sheena’s thoughts when she is led to believe by media coverage that Jessa may have been the one who kidnapped the children. Sheena is both relieved and distressed by this information. She can’t help wondering if, since Jessa is a mother herself, she can feel reassured that her children will be safe. This quotation captures The Power of Parental Love and Protectiveness, and Sheena’s desperate attempts to remain hopeful.

“There was no question anymore of whether they were going to do something horrible to us. Mr. Edward and Greasy Hair were going to leave us down here—or kill us.”

This quotation captures Sage’s mounting terror and sense of dread as the kidnapping plot unfolds, reflecting The Difficulty of Making High-Stakes Choices. Sage’s resilience and ability to tolerate physical pain are driven by the urgency and high-stakes nature of her situation. While the other children are more sheltered from the realities of their situation, Sage has access to information that reveals just how frightening their predicament truly is.

“The thing I learned […] was to imagine what I wanted. Instead of thinking about what I didn’t want.”

Jessa speaks this quotation as she rallies the children, who are growing more despairing and frightened. Jessa shares a piece of wisdom she learned while working with a counsellor after being released from prison. Although Jessa was initially dismissive of this suggestion to focus on the positives, she now begins to see how it can inspire courage and hope even under horrible circumstances.

“You keep the Rolex—and stop talking about killing kids until I think this through?”

In this quotation, Ted proposes a deal to Andy as he anxiously tries to protect Jessa and the children. Since Ted and Andy both believe that the watch is a genuine (and thus expensive) Rolex, Andy thinks he is gaining a monetary profit from this deal and readily agrees. The quotation shows that Ted is genuinely determined to protect Jessa and the children from Andy, even at the expense of having less money for himself.

“I watched in horror as the bowed plywood walls that had been holding the chimney together crumpled in on themselves.”

This quotation captures Sage’s perspective as a triumphant moment turns to a panic-inducing one. Sage pulls herself free from the shaft connecting the bunker to the top of the hole, only for it to collapse behind her. The collapse of the shaft (referred to here as a “chimney”) creates significant danger for those still in the bunker, as they might be crushed or suffocated. Sage’s task becomes more arduous rather than easier once she escapes from the bunker.

“Once I gave that regret an inch, it slammed me in the chest so hard I could barely breathe.”

This quotation marks a key turning point in Ted’s character development. He allows himself to admit that he regrets kidnapping the children and becomes overwhelmed with remorse. This quotation contributes to Ted’s ambiguous characterization. He ends up contributing to the resolution of the conflict because his guilt motivates him to begin trying to excavate those trapped in the bunker, speaking to The Difficulty of Making High-Stakes Choices.

“I decided then and there that if I was going to die down here, I was going to die with hope. With my heart open, just like I’d asked these kids to do.”

Although Jessa knows they are unlikely to survive, she decides to focus on the positive and refuses to accept their fate. This quotation marks a significant development in her character arc since, early in the novel, she is unwilling to explore optimism overall. Inspired by Sage’s example, Jessa becomes a beacon of Bravery and Leadership Emerging During Crisis, helping keep the children calm and motivated.

“Sometimes, the only choices are awful, with little hope that anything will ever be okay again. And you pick one anyway.”

This quotation occurs when Sheena recalls the memory of watching a woman risk her own life by swimming out into the choppy ocean to save her child, reflecting upon The Difficulty of Making High-Stakes Choices. The power of this memory gives Sheena the strength to finally inform the police about the ransom demand. She knows she is taking a risk but accepts that this is the only way to save her daughters.

“I had to be a deer. Because there was a hunter right behind me.”

This quotation captures Sage’s sense of fear and vulnerability as she runs away from the quarry, pursued by Andy. Sage compares herself to an animal, driven by instinct and a drive to survive, rather than trying to think up a logical plan. By comparing Andy to a hunter, Sage highlights his predatory nature and his willingness to harm those who are much more vulnerable than he is.

“Something snapped inside me, and for the first time since everything went to shit, I knew for certain what I was going to do.”

This quotation marks the moment where Ted abandons the kidnapping plan and begins frantically trying to excavate the children from the bunker. He achieves clarity and decides to accept the consequences of his actions. Since the quotation doesn’t explicitly state the outcome of Ted’s decision, it contributes to the suspense as the novel approaches its climax.

“I was a bad person. I knew that. But I wasn’t a killer.”

This quotation captures Ted’s moral justification. He insists throughout the plot that he never wants to harm the children and, in the end, he acts to save their lives. However, Ted’s insistence on defending himself reveals that he is a complex character who participates directly in harming others, even though he attempts to rationalize these actions.

“She had been a good mom to all of them.”

After Jessa and the children are rescued, the children are questioned about whether the former harmed or protected them. The children describe how she cared for them, describing her as someone who acted as a maternal figure and embodied The Power of Parental Love and Protectiveness. By likening Jessa’s protectiveness to maternal care, the narrative affirms her commitment to caring for children (including her own) and implies that she is deserving of reuniting with her daughter.