How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"That's crazy," Thom argued. "What about your hair? You can't go swimming naked, either. And you'll turn into a girl—you know, with a chest and everything." (1.13)
Touché. As soon as Alanna starts going through puberty, it'll be pretty obvious that she's a girl. Sure, maybe she'll get lucky and remain slender. But would you want to bet against genetics? (Do they even have the concept of genetics in Tortall?)
Quote #2
All girls from noble families studied in convents until they were fifteen or sixteen, at which time they went to Court to find husbands. (1.46)
In Tortall, among the upper classes, a girl is considered "grown up" at fifteen or sixteen years old, and we're not talking grown up enough to get her driver's license: we're talking grown up enough to marry. This is the fate that Alanna is escaping by disguising herself as a boy. What do you think? Fate worse than death … or way preferable to trying to get yourself killed as a knight?
Quote #3
"Until you are fourteen, you will be a page," the Duke went on. "You will wait on the table at the evening meal…Half your day will be spent learning fighting arts. The other half you will spend with books, in the hope that we can teach you how to think." (2.7)
Wait wait wait, this growing up stuff actually requires you to think and learn? Later, we're out. (Just kidding, learning is awesome! Alanna's not put off by it, so you shouldn't be either!)