Quotes
"If only I'd be less difficult" (Murray 36).
Liz says this when her mother slips out at night to go drinking and she feels like it is her fault. She felt like she was a burden and her mom wanted to run away from her and ignore her. I think this is an important quote because everyone feels like this at least once, to their parents, friends, or siblings. It is relatable because it refers to disappointment. You are not going to make everyone happy in your life. If you disappoint somebody you might say "If only I did this instead", but in reality you cannot please everyone.
"Sometimes we would stay out until the dark sky grew light again-what we called in the Bronx 'Breaking Night'" (Murray 80).
Liz explains the meaning of "breaking night" after she spends all night with her friends out on the town on one of their adventures. This quote is important because it is also the title of the book. I think she uses it as the title because when you pull an all-nighter you have gone above and beyond how long you are supposed to be awake, and towards the end of the book Liz goes above and beyond to finish high school in two years.
"Carlos was a survivor; so was Sam. We all were" (Murray 182).
Before she ran away from Brick's apartment Liz realized that together her, Sam and Carlos, could survive the world if they stuck together. The meaning of this quote is it really defines Liz; she truly is a survivor. Over the years Liz endured hunger, and neglect. This affected her in many ways such as, emotionally, physically, and mentally. Her childhood was very hard but she survived and thrived.
"You and me, Ma, reminds me of how pearls are made. People see pearls as beautiful, perfect gems, but never realize that they actually come from pain- from something hard or dangerous getting trapped inside an oyster that doesn't belong. The oyster makes a pearl to protect itself" (Murray 228).
When Jean dies of AIDS Liz writes a letter to her, as a closure of her death to tell her the things she should have said when she was alive. In this quote she uses the metaphor of pearls and oysters and her and Jean's relationship. Even though Jean caused a lot of pain for Liz she knows in her heart that she still cared and protected her. Their love was so strong that they could forget about the pain.
"Life has a way of doing that; one minute everything makes sense, the next things change" (Murray 251)
After interviewing for many high schools and not prevailing she has one more interview, and she is trying to convince herself to go to the interview. She used this piece of advice to get her off the couch and go to the school and not go get pizza. For Liz this was a turning point. This was the moment when her attitude changed about her life and what she wanted to do with her life. I think this decision was the first "hurdle" in her race to graduate.
"I've got it, sweetheart. I'm HIV positive. I was diagnosed in April" (Murray 294).
During their annual birthday celebration for Liz, before she gets to the diner, Peter tells Liz that just like Jean he has AIDS. In the book this was the turning point for the family. When Jean died it came to a shock for Liz that she needs to cherish the family is left because one day they are going to be gone, and when she found out about her dad those feelings intensified. In affect of this she spent more time with her dad and Lisa.
"If only I'd be less difficult" (Murray 36).
Liz says this when her mother slips out at night to go drinking and she feels like it is her fault. She felt like she was a burden and her mom wanted to run away from her and ignore her. I think this is an important quote because everyone feels like this at least once, to their parents, friends, or siblings. It is relatable because it refers to disappointment. You are not going to make everyone happy in your life. If you disappoint somebody you might say "If only I did this instead", but in reality you cannot please everyone.
"Sometimes we would stay out until the dark sky grew light again-what we called in the Bronx 'Breaking Night'" (Murray 80).
Liz explains the meaning of "breaking night" after she spends all night with her friends out on the town on one of their adventures. This quote is important because it is also the title of the book. I think she uses it as the title because when you pull an all-nighter you have gone above and beyond how long you are supposed to be awake, and towards the end of the book Liz goes above and beyond to finish high school in two years.
"Carlos was a survivor; so was Sam. We all were" (Murray 182).
Before she ran away from Brick's apartment Liz realized that together her, Sam and Carlos, could survive the world if they stuck together. The meaning of this quote is it really defines Liz; she truly is a survivor. Over the years Liz endured hunger, and neglect. This affected her in many ways such as, emotionally, physically, and mentally. Her childhood was very hard but she survived and thrived.
"You and me, Ma, reminds me of how pearls are made. People see pearls as beautiful, perfect gems, but never realize that they actually come from pain- from something hard or dangerous getting trapped inside an oyster that doesn't belong. The oyster makes a pearl to protect itself" (Murray 228).
When Jean dies of AIDS Liz writes a letter to her, as a closure of her death to tell her the things she should have said when she was alive. In this quote she uses the metaphor of pearls and oysters and her and Jean's relationship. Even though Jean caused a lot of pain for Liz she knows in her heart that she still cared and protected her. Their love was so strong that they could forget about the pain.
"Life has a way of doing that; one minute everything makes sense, the next things change" (Murray 251)
After interviewing for many high schools and not prevailing she has one more interview, and she is trying to convince herself to go to the interview. She used this piece of advice to get her off the couch and go to the school and not go get pizza. For Liz this was a turning point. This was the moment when her attitude changed about her life and what she wanted to do with her life. I think this decision was the first "hurdle" in her race to graduate.
"I've got it, sweetheart. I'm HIV positive. I was diagnosed in April" (Murray 294).
During their annual birthday celebration for Liz, before she gets to the diner, Peter tells Liz that just like Jean he has AIDS. In the book this was the turning point for the family. When Jean died it came to a shock for Liz that she needs to cherish the family is left because one day they are going to be gone, and when she found out about her dad those feelings intensified. In affect of this she spent more time with her dad and Lisa.