“If you had told me a month ago that I would be standing on the outskirts of an airport in Fairbanks, Alaska, I would’ve said that you were misinformed. […] But a lot can change in thirty days. And even more can get ripped away.”

This quotation shows two sides of Grace’s personality. On one hand, it highlights Grace’s snarky voice. On the other hand, it reveals the loss of her parents and the deep emotional impact it has had on her.

“[I]f I’ve learn­ed an­y­thing in the month since my par­ents died, it’s just how lit­tle most things mat­ter.

Who cares who picks me up as long as I get to the school?

Who cares where I live if it’s not go­ing to be with my mom and dad?”

Grace’s maturity and outlook on life are shaped by her grief over her parents, as she alludes in this section. Unlike many other teens, she now doesn’t worry about details, only the bigger picture. Her view shows her well-developed characterization and her ability to learn, grow, and adapt.

“And there’s that fade-out again. It gets to me, just like it does eve­ry time. Usu­al­ly, I ig­nore it, but this time I can’t stop my­self from ask­ing, ‘Af­ter what?’

Just this once, I want some­one else to say it. May­be then it will feel more real and less like a night­mare.”

Here, Grace responds to Macy alluding to her parents’ death without saying the words. Grace wants someone to address their deaths directly, rather than shy away from the subject. She’s been in so much pain that she wants others to acknowledge it without pitying her. Grace shows regret and care though when she realizes Macy shouldn’t be her target since Macy has not experienced the same situation. Jaxon’s acknowledgment of Grace’s loss is one of the things that draws her toward him because they can share their grief.