How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Jeepers, Evie, you shouldn't worry," Margie said. "After all, a McCafferty wouldn't date a Kalman. She's Jewish." She whispered the last word, as if the statue of Mary would blow a raspberry if she heard it. (2.31)
Margie acts like it's ridiculous to think that a boy would like Ruthie Kalman—after all, she's Jewish. Just the way that she says it makes Evie uncomfortable, which is a good thing—it means that Evie is bothered by prejudice and discrimination.
Quote #2
"Do you believe the nerve?" Margie whispered to me. "Did she see the way she looked at us? I'll show her." (2.47)
To Margie, it's not just an affront that Ruthie is Jewish. It's that she has the nerve to hang out with a Catholic boy even though Margie clearly thinks that she's a lesser being. Margie is so prejudiced that she can't see that maybe Ruthie and Jeff just like each other.
Quote #3
They had two water fountains, one for Whites and one for Coloreds. I'd seen a few of them on the drive south. A Negro girl was taking a drink while her mother looked on. When the mother met my eyes, she quickly looked away. (16.21)
There are little things in the world that open Evie's eyes to the injustice of it all—and the separate water fountains that she sees definitely make her think about how unfair it is that people are treated differently. She can't change anything yet, though, but she can keep it in mind.