How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
When he saw the school building in the distance, he wondered what would happen if he just kept going, the same way his father had left them three years ago. (3.10)
Zach thinks about abandoning his life, just as his father once did. Similarly, Zach's father is mean, just as Zach's grandfather was. Can they find a way to overcome the cycle?
Quote #5
He took a deep breath and blurted out the only thing he could think to say. "I don't want to play anymore." (4.4)
After his father throws away his toys, Zach abandons the game because he doesn't want to tell his friends what happened. Just as his dad radically changed his life, Zach pretty harshly does something similar to Alice and Poppy.
Quote #6
But the driver just took a long look at Zach, Poppy, and Alice and got off the bus. He didn't say or do a single thing to help them. (6.79)
The bus driver's behavior echoes the abandonment that the kids have experienced in their family lives. He just doesn't show up when they need him, leaving three kids to sort through a tricky situation. Maybe he just needed a coffee?