The Friendship War

“However, if it hadn’t been for Ben’s August band camp, the entire family might be here on the plane with me, and I wouldn’t be getting to spend time alone with Grampa.

So, hooray for marching band!

And if Dad had been a little less worried, then he and Mom probably wouldn’t have gotten me my own iPhone a couple of weeks ago.

So, hooray for dads who worry!”

This passage comes from Chapter 1 while Grace is on her way to visit her grandpa, and it highlights a few things about her thought processes and personality. First, these lines show how Grace relies on the principle of cause and effect, as well as scientific thinking in general. Both of the examples she gives attempt to logically link events to a conclusion; her brother’s attendance at band camp allows her to visit her grandpa alone, and her dad’s worry results in her getting a cell phone. Juxtaposing these logical conclusions are emotional statements about how excited these things make her, which shows how logic and emotion come together to make Grace who she is. From a storytelling perspective, these lines also provide necessary exposition to set up Grace’s trip to the mill.

“Sometimes I wonder if Ellie has an extra best friend in Aspen, like a spare tire. And sometimes I think that by the time we make it to June every year, we might just really need our long summer away from each other. With zero communication.” 

These lines come on the first day of school as Grace prepares to meet up with Ellie after having been apart from her all summer. For the last few years, Grace has wondered at these breaks in their communication, and this passage shows her trying to find a logical explanation for why they don’t talk for several weeks every year, despite their supposed status as best friends.