Possibly the only good to come out of these nightmares was that it brought Hans Hubermann, her new papa, into the room, to soothe her, to love her. He came every night and sat with her. The first couple of times, he simply stayed - a stranger to kill the aloneness. A few nights after that, he whispered, "Shhh, I'm here, it's all right." After three weeks he held her. Trust was accumulated quickly, due primarily to the brute strength of the man's gentleness, his thereness. The girl knew from the outset that Hans Hubermann would always appear midscream, and he would not leave. (36)

Trust was accumulated quickly, due primarily to the brute strength of the man's gentleness, his thereness. (p.36)

The bittersweetness of uncertainty: To win or to lose.

I'm not a writer who refuses to talk about a book until I've finished.

She gave 'The Dream Carrier' to Max as if words alone could nourish him.

He does something to me, that boy. Every time. It’s his only detriment. He steps on my heart. He makes me cry.

When death captures me,' the boy vowed, 'he will feel my fist on his face.' Personally, I quite like that. Such stupid gallantry. Yes. I like that a lot.