How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Only then did he also take in what Ton had scrawled in a spidery hand on the inside flap: a row of telephone figures under which were the words: BE READY NIETS IN AMSTERDAM IS WAT HET LIJKT. (1.50)
Nothing is what is appears to be—Jacob reads this on the matchbox, and he discovers it over and over again in Amsterdam, first with Ton really being a boy, then with Daan being his cousin and his grandpa being someone different than he learned his whole life. In a way, the whole book is about Jacob figuring out the difference between truth and fiction.
Quote #2
But it wasn't until he was in bed that he felt—really felt—just how embarrassed he was. And, for heaven's sake, how could he not have realized that Ton was a boy? Thinking about it now, he knew he'd known all the time. Had sensed it. But he'd wanted Ton to be a girl, had wanted it very much, and wouldn't let himself see that he wasn't. The truth was he'd deceived himself. (3.4)
We know Jacob lying to himself has more to do with his own sexual identity and coming to terms with who he is attracted to than anything else, but still—we can't help but point out that this is a big moment for Jacob in a new city with new people. He's starting to question what is true and what's fake.
Quote #3
Alma glanced up, assessing him, before saying with a bleak firmness, "You have to know your own truth and stick to it. And never despair. Never give up. There's always hope." Then, as if aware of how stern she must sound, she smiled and shrugged and added, "This I learned during the war." (4.92)
The word is out: this is the secret to getting old. For Alma, it centers on truth that you get when you're old but don't know when you're young. Even so, did you notice how she says that truth is something that you have for yourself? This means there's more than one version of the truth out there.