Books Quote by Cath Crowley
““Get. Up,’ George says, gently shoving me with her knee, which is her version of a hug. I love my sister, but, along with the rest of the world, I don’t really understand her and it’d be true to say I fear her, just slightly. She’s seventeen, starting Year 12 this year. She likes learning but she hates her school. She got a scholarship to a private one on the other side of the river in Year 7 and Mum makes her stay there even though she’d rather go to Gracetown High. She wears a huge amount of black, mostly t-shirts with things like Read, Motherfuckers on the front. Sometimes I think she likes post-apocalyptic fiction so much because she’s genuinely happy at the thought that the world might end. ‘Is the plan to get up sometime soon?’ she asks, and I tell her no, that is not the plan. I explain the plan to her, which is basically to wait, horizontally, for life to improve.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, 2018
A teenage sister feels misunderstood, conflicted, and resigned to a passive waiting for life to improve.
In simple terms: Teen feels misunderstood and stuck.
Key Takeaway
Offer empathy and encourage active agency.
Themes
family
adolescence
misunderstanding
Mood
empathetic
concerned
Type
fictional
reflective
When to use this quote
- family counseling
- school support
- mental health awareness
Key Concepts
psychology
identity formation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you support her to take active steps?
- What does “waiting horizontally” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Passive waiting may hinder growth.
