How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
She changed into her pajamas, lay down, and imagined the words A SUPERHERO SQUIRREL RESTED AT HER FEET, AND SO SHE WAS NOT LONELY AT ALL emblazoned on the ceiling above her. (12.3)
A general rule of thumb is if you try to convince yourself that you're not lonely, you usually are. Here Flora wants to prove her mom wrong by showing she doesn't need any friends, but the truth is, she is pretty isolated from everyone else.
Quote #2
Flora is very lonely. She spends far too much time reading comics. I've tried to break her of the habit, but I'm very busy with my novel writing and she is alone a lot. I'm worried that it has made her strange. (17.21)
Her mom has no problem telling people—even people Flora's just met, like William—that her daughter is lonely. We feel for Flora here, but her mom's got a point. We like to think that the journey Flora takes in the book is partly about finding herself, but also partly about letting others in once in the while.
Quote #3
Things, in general, were pretty confusing. For instance, here was Ulysses, sitting in a shoe box, knowing that there was a shovel in the trunk of the car and that the man driving the car had been instructed to whack him over the head with the shovel, and the squirrel didn't look worried or afraid. He looked happy. (25.2)
Poor Flora. Even her own parents lie to her about what they are planning (gulp) for Ulysses. We'd probably feel all alone, too, if our parents wanted to kill our new—and only—BFF.