How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
What had happened had left Alex feeling as if he himself had been struck. He felt a sympathetic pain in his head. (10.17)
As Alex spends more time with Peter and his band, he becomes far more sympathetic to their struggles. At first he was too scared to fully empathize with them, but now that he sees their struggles first-hand, he can finally place himself in their shoes.
Quote #8
Peter had grown quiet since Miska's death […] Occasionally there were signs of the old Peter […] but mostly he seemed to be deep inside of himself. (13.46)
Peter doesn't take Miska's death very well. Although it's easy to underestimate him, Peter truly cares for every boy in his crew and would do anything to keep them safe. Plus, Miska holds a special place in Peter's heart as the youngest member of the posse. We're bumming ourselves out just thinking about it.
Quote #9
"I'm going to go back and… fish with Nicholai" […] Peter laughed, and his laugh […] sounded warm and good to Alex because it sounded like Peter. (13.83-85)
In the end, Peter makes it his life's mission to help suffering Soviet citizens get a second chance. Good for you, dude. Although we don't know exactly why Peter makes this choice, it's very much in line with the guy we've gotten to know over the course of The Wild Children.