"Even a mistake is better than nothing."
Because of his sheltered childhood and raging hormones, Craig is desperate to try something new when he arrives at camp. He falls hard for Raina and quickly makes her the object of his desire. As if proving something to his parents, he decides to pursue her at any cost. He would rather be wrong than be scared of their disapproval.
"On my first visit to the public library, I was like a kid at a candy store where all the candy was free.
I gorged myself until my tummy ached."
This quote reveals something telling about Craig's character. He's curious to a fault. Upon discovering new information or a new experience, he throws himself into it full tilt. He's passionate and prone to be obsessive. This characteristic is reflected in his approach to romance.
"For what matters if I gain the whole world, but lose my soul?"
Confused and distraught by the numerous choices he's being asked to make in close succession, Craig wonders whether being "good" is really worthwhile. He asks a friend this question as an argument as to why he needs to consider his decisions more carefully. This quote is particularly interesting because it's taken from the Bible. Craig's conscience is bothered by his religious beliefs in relation to his actions and desires concerning Raina because they don't seem compatible. This is exactly the sort of cognitive dissonance which leads to crisis.
"And that's my comfort -- that someone else was there and experienced the same thing. How else could I know it was REAL and not merely a dream?"
At a delicate life stage, Craig is challenging his long-held beliefs. He feels alienated from his childhood life because nobody he knows his openly questioning what they've been told is correct. With no one to relate to, he begins to doubt that his experiences are even really happening to him. Finally, he reaches out to Raina for support. He is willing to do anything with her so long as she is present to validate his experiences. He just needs an honest friend.
