How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Her eyes darted back and forth between the rolled-up yellow cloth and the approaching storm, wondering what a boy would do. (4.69)
Deryn's first real challenge is whether or not to send out her panic signal when she sees the storm, which the men on the ground can't see yet. What would a boy do? Would a boy react to this situation differently than a girl? Is it even a question of gender or more of personality?
Quote #5
Jaspert had been right: Her diddies weren't the tricky part. Water was heavy, so bathing on an airship was done quick with rags and a pail. And the toilets aboard the Leviathan ("heads" in Service-speak) were in the dark gastric channel, which carried off clart to turn it into ballast and hydrogen. So hiding her body was easy… It was her brain she'd had to shift. (11.22)
Sounds like Deryn is pretty lucky overall, though we do wonder how she manages to change clothes with that whole shared cabin situation. What do you think Deryn has had to change about the way she thinks and reacts? Is this a natural difference between boys and girls, or is it caused more by different experiences?
Quote #6
It was bloody exhausting, being a boy.
Not that all of it was bad. Her airman's uniform was miles better than any girl's clothes. The boots clomped gloriously as she stormed to signals practice or firefighting drills, and the jacket had a dozen pockets, including special compartments for her command whistle and rigging knife. And Deryn didn't mind the constant practice in useful skills like knife throwing, swearing, and not showing pain when punched.
But how did boys keep this up their whole barking lives? (11.24-26)
Good question, Deryn. We're wondering how you plan to keep this up your whole barking life, as well. What are your plans for after the Air Service?