How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
This time it was Stinky, twisting a stick in his hand, acting like he'd just thought up something terrific. He was in my grade at school, but about three years older than everybody else. He had ratty shoulders and two large can-opener teeth. His black hair was swatted smooth with pomade, and his voice sounded like knife blades rubbing together.
I'd always been afraid of him. Every year at school he made it a habit of punching me around to show he was still boss. Once he broke a bone in my little finger, and I lied to Mom about it, saying that I got it sliding into second base. Another time he separated the soft rubber on the bridge of my nose, and I had to tell her I got hit by a pop fly. (2.30-31)
Stinky Garcia is scary as all get-out—he has "can-opener teeth," which makes us nervous just to read about. In fact, everything about this guy from his hair to his voice has us trembling like a leaf. Keep an eye out for the different folks that Manny finds frightening in this book, and whether they share any similar traits.
Quote #2
Just like that, they lost interest in me, and started walking across the Big Lawn toward the Yellow Projects. A cold ache of fear thawed in my chest, but I didn't move, thinking that if I did, they'd reel around and start bullying me again. (2.45)
When the Garcia brothers start beating on Manny, he's frightened as can be—it's three against one so he's in for a rough beating. Until they decide he's not worth their time anymore. Notice how physical fear is when Manny describes it. Interesting, right?
Quote #3
I leaned my chin on the dashboard and asked, "Rich people live out here, huh?"
"It's just another place to live," Mr. Hart said blandly, "middle-class, some upper."
I could tell by the quickness of his voice that he was disappointed that I was excited, except that I wasn't excited, but scared; scared of all the new kids I'd be meeting; different kids, the kind that lived in houses like these. (3.36-38)
Manny's mom wants him to go the fancier school on the other side of town, and he's a big bundle of emotions. Sure, it'd be nice to be mostly excited about a new adventure ahead, but the truth is that Manny is more scared than anything. We think money—or the lack thereof—is a factor here.