--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Where once September seemed merely and…" description: "\"“Where once September seemed merely and quietly odd, staring out the window during Mathematics lectures and reading big colorful books under her desk d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/catherynne-m-valente-375_books_where-once-september-seemed-merely-and-q_1224775.png" --- # Where once September seemed merely and quietly odd… ![“Where once September seemed merely and quietly odd, staring out the window during Mathematics lectures and reading big colorful books under her desk during Civics, now the other children sensed something wild and foreign about her.” quote by Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/catherynne-m-valente-375_books_where-once-september-seemed-merely-and-q_1224775.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/catherynne-m-valente-375_books_where-once-september-seemed-merely-and-q_1224775.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/catherynne-m-valente-375_books_where-once-september-seemed-merely-and-q_1224775.png) > ““Where once September seemed merely and quietly odd, staring out the window during Mathematics lectures and reading big colorful books under her desk during Civics, now the other children sensed something wild and foreign about her.”” [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child’s ordinary school life transforms as peers perceive her as mysterious and exotic. **In simple terms:** Kids notice her as strange and exciting. Key Takeaway Embrace uniqueness, even if it draws attention. Themes identity perception adolescence Mood curious reflective Type narrative observational When to use this quote - Classroom interactions - peer relationships - self‑esteem development Key Concepts Otherness social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does being seen as “other” affect confidence? - Can uniqueness be a source of strength? A Different Perspective Being labeled “different” can lead to isolation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Staring out the window](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staring-out-the-window/) ## Related quotes > [What no wife of a writer understands is that a writer is working when he's staring out the window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burton-rascoe/what-no-wife-of-a-writer-understands-is-that-a-writer-is-working-when/) [Burton Rascoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burton-rascoe/) > [“And I’m left staring out the window, watching District 12 disappear, with all my good-byes still hanging on my lips.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/and-i-m-left-staring-out-the-window-watching-district-12-disappear/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I used to think I was unstable, because I had this thirst for something. I could never figure out what it was. I couldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-used-to-think-i-was-unstable-because-i-had-this-thirst-for/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I'm doing one of three things: I'm writing. I'm staring out the window. Or I'm writhing on the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/i-m-doing-one-of-three-things-i-m-writing-i-m-staring-out-the-window/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [My favorite pastime is staring out the window. When I go on tour, I can spend hours and hours just staring out the window,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/my-favorite-pastime-is-staring-out-the-window-when-i-go-on-tour-i-can/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [“I thought maybe if I stared hard enough, I could see the lights of the city I had left so very far behind. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/i-thought-maybe-if-i-stared-hard-enough-i-could-see-the-lights-of-the/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [Whenever I see my cat staring out the window I sit behind him and whisper, look Simba, everything the light touches is our kingdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-telman/whenever-i-see-my-cat-staring-out-the-window-i-sit-behind-him-and/) Alex Telman > [My idea of a productive day, as both a child and an adult, was reading for hours and staring out the window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-caldwell/my-idea-of-a-productive-day-as-both-a-child-and-an-adult-was-reading/) [Gail Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-caldwell/) > [...there's nothing wrong with occasionally staring out the window and thinking nonsense, as long as the nonsense is yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-occasionally-staring-out-the-window-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Staring out the window. Waiting for life to stop. Cus everything I been through. Never seems to let up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jmsn/staring-out-the-window-waiting-for-life-to-stop-cus-everything-i-been/) [JMSN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jmsn/) > [What no wife of a writer can ever understand is that a writer is working when he's staring out of the window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burton-rascoe/what-no-wife-of-a-writer-can-ever-understand-is-that-a-writer-is/) [Burton Rascoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burton-rascoe/) > [I'm the guy who spends 15 minutes staring out of the window wondering what to have for lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/i-m-the-guy-who-spends-15-minutes-staring-out-of-the-window-wondering/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [I keep staring out at this window, hoping that I'll see you arrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamestown-story/i-keep-staring-out-at-this-window-hoping-that-i-ll-see-you-arrive/) Jamestown Story > [I like to put my iPad on the window and leave it there for however long the journey is, so that I'm staring out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-albarn/i-like-to-put-my-ipad-on-the-window-and-leave-it-there-for-however/) [Damon Albarn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-albarn/) > [There could not have been a lovelier sight; but there was none to see it except a little boy who was staring in at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-could-not-have-been-a-lovelier-sight-but-there-was-none-to-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Catherynne M. Valente > [When I saw him I thought I could curl up inside him and go to sleep and never wake up." "Men are no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/when-i-saw-him-i-thought-i-could-curl-up-inside-him-and-go-to-sleep/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [We all just keep moving, September. We keep moving until we stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-just-keep-moving-september-we-keep-moving-until-we-stop/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“You couldn't ever really fix a sad story. You could only make another. And another. And another, until you found the right one at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-couldn-t-ever-really-fix-a-sad-story-you-could-only-make-another/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“He considers it for a moment and spits out the seeds, which sprout, quickly, into tiny junkblossoms sizzling with recursive algorithms. The algorithms wriggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/he-considers-it-for-a-moment-and-spits-out-the-seeds-which-sprout/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“Truly, Mallow yearned to know everything. Curiosity was part of her, like her short blond hair and bitten fingernails.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/truly-mallow-yearned-to-know-everything-curiosity-was-part-of-her/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“The cicada lies in the earth for seventeen years. It is warm and dark there, it is soft and wet. Its little legs curl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/the-cicada-lies-in-the-earth-for-seventeen-years-it-is-warm-and-dark/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Her heart was bruised by the kiss, smashed and surprised and unsettled by it. September thought kisses were all nice, sweet things asked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/her-heart-was-bruised-by-the-kiss-smashed-and-surprised-and-unsettled/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“September put her hand on the grip of the Rivet Gun. She’d only just gotten it, and she’d promised to take copious notes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/september-put-her-hand-on-the-grip-of-the-rivet-gun-she-d-only-just/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Just tell yourself a story that'll satisfy you and pretend he told it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/just-tell-yourself-a-story-that-ll-satisfy-you-and-pretend-he-told-it/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“You see, the future is a kind of stew, a soup, a vichyssoise of the present and the past. That's how you get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-see-the-future-is-a-kind-of-stew-a-soup-a-vichyssoise-of-the/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Fairy tales have always been about getting through the worst of everything, the darkest and the deepest and the bloodiest of events. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/fairy-tales-have-always-been-about-getting-through-the-worst-of/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“There is a place, September, oh, very far from Pandemonium. A place where it is always autumn, where there is always cider and pumpkin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/there-is-a-place-september-oh-very-far-from-pandemonium-a-place-where/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“I was happy, the sun was high. I had enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-was-happy-the-sun-was-high-i-had-enough/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Who are you?" "I am Death," said the creature. "I thought that was obvious." "But you're so small!" "Only because you are small. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/who-are-you-i-am-death-said-the-creature-i-thought-that-was-obvious/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) [Explore all 621 Catherynne M. 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People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. 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There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Where once September seemed merely and quietly odd, staring out the window during Mathematics lectures and reading big colorful books under her desk during Civics, now the other children sensed something wild and foreign about her.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catherynne M. 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