How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"A scar is a sign of strength," [Grandfather] said. "The sign of a survivor." (26.51)
After weeks of being beaten down by the likes of Madam Lockton, what Isabel really needs is someone to tell her she's okay, and that's exactly what Grandfather does. While she has a long way to go before she really puts the pieces together, his statement is the beginning of her lesson that the scar doesn't have to be a mark of shame.
Quote #8
I took the slim book off the shelf and opened the cover. I had never read a poem. What if I lacked the skill? What if I were caught? (36.38)
Earlier in the book, Mr. Robert accused Isabel of lying about knowing how to read. Evidently, Isabel has been so broken by recent events that she fails to see the great power in her literary skills. At this point, though, the idea of using her ability to read—even to read a poem—actually frightens her.
Quote #9
My eyes would not close. My thoughts churned up like muddy water, with dangerous eels thrashing through it.
If an entire nation could see its freedom, why not a girl? (42.10-11)
Yay. Eventually, reading Common Sense inspires Isabel to see the whole picture: that she is an individual with rights, who does not deserve to be owned by another human being. This is the beginning of her plan to escape the Locktons' slavery and set out on her own journey.