How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Folks called the Killburns witchy people. Some said that the Killburn women could put themselves in trances and cast out the devil. Killburn men and women both could heal a bad wound by touching, although M.C. had never seen them do it. Boys scattered around the hills never would play with Ben. They said it was because he was so little and nervous. But M.C. had played with Be from the time he was a child and didn't know better. When he was older, he had been told. Now he guessed Ben was like a bad habit he couldn't break and had to keep secret. (1.34)
This the first time we're introduced to how prejudiced people—including M.C.—are against the Killburns. M.C. may be friends with Ben, but the fact that he sees the whole thing as a "bad habit" that needs to be kept "secret" shows how all that prejudice still has a hold over M.C.
Quote #2
He even glanced at Ben's hands. They were small and appeared almost ordinary, except each hand had six fingers. Ben had six toes on each foot. Folks said all the Killburn men had toes and hands the same. (1.78)
Is this the real reason why people are prejudiced against the Killburns—because they a physical deformity? Would people be more welcoming of the Killburns if they didn't have extra fingers and toes?
Quote #3
Eyeing Ben's witchy hands, M.C. assured himself that the sixth fingers weren't wildly waving and making magic. They were the same as the other ten holding onto the vine. Only they were extra. (1.80)
It's like M.C.'s reminding himself that even a physical deformity is a part of nature and can work just as naturally. But why is it that M.C. is so willing to cast supernatural powers onto a physical deformity?