Dark Water Youth Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

"Young people do what they want always," Agnès said, turning briefly to glance at me. She wasn't smiling this time. Instead, she looked a little sad. (23.21)

Hmm… In many ways, Agnès is right when it comes to Pearl. Our leading lady doesn't care much about what she's supposed to do or what she's told to do. In fact, most of the time, she operates under her own set of rules. It should be noted, however, that not all young people in the book act like this.

Quote #8

"Was the interviewer nice?" I went on in a peppy tone. Somehow our roles were upside down, like our old house. Normally, the teenage girl dresses in a sensible skirt and goes to job interviews and the mother asks if the interviewer was nice. (30.9)

As Pearl asks about her mom's job interview, she realizes that their roles are reversed in many ways: Instead of her mom preparing her for interviews and big moments, she does that for her mom. Even though Pearl is young and naïve in some areas (ahem, love), she's also mature in others since she's had to deal with a lot of family drama.

Quote #9

They say that parts of a teenager's brain aren't formed yet. That might have been the problem. I'd like to think that rather than a malignancy of heart. I'm fine, I tried via ESP. I'm fine I'm fineimfineimfine. (48.3)

We wonder whether Pearl actually thinks this or is just using it as an excuse. She's right to point out that teenagers' brains still have some growing to do, but we're not entirely convinced that's the only reason she ran off with Amiel in the first place.