How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Mom, you can't sell!" Laurel's voice was loud and high-pitched […]
"This is not about you, Laurel. I can't hold on to something this valuable just because you like it. Life doesn't work that way." (18.35-37)
Ouch. Laurel's mom is right—life's not fair, and you don't always get what you want. Sometimes you need to make sacrifices in order to protect the people for whom you're responsible, though that doesn't necessarily make it any less painful.
Quote #8
Laurel thought of her father lying in his hospital bed, perhaps even now taking his last breaths. "My father is dying, and in a few days there will be no one left but my mother and me. I can't be what you want me to be," she admitted in a shaky voice. (23.84)
It's super hard to face a huge duty when your life is falling apart at the seams, and while Laurel wants to help the faeries protect their homeland, if her dad dies, her family life will be wrecked and there's no telling what she will or won't be able to do. Luckily Jamison has a back-up plan in order to help her family find their feet again so she can take up her duties as a bridge between the human and faerie worlds. Phew.
Quote #9
"She lectured me for a while and told me I was irresponsible, but she didn't ground me from the car or anything. That's thanks to you, I imagine. She knows I'm helping you." (24.63)
So here's a question: Is responsibility transitive? Like, does David get off easy for neglecting to call his mom and give her a status update because he was being responsible by helping Laurel in her time of need? Deep thoughts, brought to you by Shmoop.