--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first met Cara, she was twelve and…" description: "\"“When I first met Cara, she was twelve and angry at the world. Her parents had split up, her brother was gone, and her mom was infatuated with some guy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/jodi-picoult-45_favorite-song_when-i-first-met-cara-she-was-twelve-and_1684221.jpg" --- # When I first met Cara, she was twelve and angry at the… ![“When I first met Cara, she was twelve and angry at the world. Her parents had split up, her brother was gone, and her mom was infatuated with some guy who was missing vowels in his unpronounceable last name. So I did what any other man in that situation would do: I came armed with gifts. I bought…” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/jodi-picoult-45_favorite-song_when-i-first-met-cara-she-was-twelve-and_1684221.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/jodi-picoult-45_favorite-song_when-i-first-met-cara-she-was-twelve-and_1684221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/jodi-picoult-45_favorite-song_when-i-first-met-cara-she-was-twelve-and_1684221.jpg) > ““When I first met Cara, she was twelve and angry at the world. Her parents had split up, her brother was gone, and her mom was infatuated with some guy who was missing vowels in his unpronounceable last name. So I did what any other man in that situation would do: I came armed with gifts. I bought her things that I thought a twelve-year-old would love: a poster of Taylor Lautner, a Miley Cyrus CD, nail polish that glowed in the dark. "I can't wait for the next Twilight movie," I babbled, when I presented her with the gifts in front of Georgie. "My favorite song on the CD is 'If We Were a Movie.' And I almost went with glitter nail polish, but the salesperson said this is much cooler, especially with Halloween coming up." Cara looked at her mother and said, without any judgment, "I think your boyfriend is gay.”” [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man tries to help a troubled teen with material gifts, revealing deeper emotional complexities. **In simple terms:** He offers presents to connect, but underlying issues remain. Key Takeaway Offer empathy beyond material items. Themes parenthood adolescence empathy gift-giving Mood empathetic reflective Type narrative character‑driven When to use this quote - teen counseling - family dynamics - gift selection Key Concepts emotional support communication Questions to Reflect On - How can you truly support someone in pain? - What non‑material gestures help? A Different Perspective Material gifts may not address emotional needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cara Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cara-looked-989029/) [Coming Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming-cara-989030/) [Favorite song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favorite-song/) [First met](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-met/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Glitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glitter/) [Halloween](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halloween/) [Impression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impression/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Miley cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miley-cyrus/) [Mother Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-said/) [Nail polish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nail-polish/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Twilight movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twilight-movie/) [Went Glitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-glitter-989031/) ## Related quotes > [“You were not really in the area,” she says now. “You look just like your father used to look when he lied to me.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-were-not-really-in-the-area-she-says-now-you-look-just-like-your/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I wanted to be a part of the first 'Twilight' movie, and unfortunately, it didn't work out so great. So when they came back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-campbell-bower/i-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-the-first-twilight-movie-and-unfortunately/) [Jamie Campbell Bower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-campbell-bower/) > [I think it went Twilight, Welcome to the Rileys, New Moon, Runaways, then Eclipse, so it was like one of those movies between each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/i-think-it-went-twilight-welcome-to-the-rileys-new-moon-runaways-then/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [We love things with biting - "Twilight" movies, zombie movies, eating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sagal/we-love-things-with-biting-twilight-movies-zombie-movies-eating/) [Peter Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sagal/) > [I'm the one with the wicked curve ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-m-the-one-with-the-wicked-curve-ball/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [The fact is, these are actors playing parts, and maybe it's not such a bad thing that people be reminded of that. Both of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/the-fact-is-these-are-actors-playing-parts-and-maybe-it-s-not-such-a/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [I directed the first "Twilight" movie. It was in my contract that I could have gone on to do the other films, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hardwicke/i-directed-the-first-twilight-movie-it-was-in-my-contract-that-i/) [Catherine Hardwicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hardwicke/) > [If you want to buy a good movie, you'll buy a good movie. If you don't want to buy a good movie, you'll buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mackie/if-you-want-to-buy-a-good-movie-you-ll-buy-a-good-movie-if-you-don-t/) [Anthony Mackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mackie/) > [ I remember, with the third \[Twilight\] movie, when we went to Munich and the entire Olympic stadium was filled with fans. We walked in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-remember-with-the-third-twilight-movie-when-we-went-to-munich-and/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [Every day, three times per second, we produce the equivalent of the amount of data that the Library of Congress has in it's entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/every-day-three-times-per-second-we-produce-the-equivalent-of-the/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [Garry Shandling is someone I've publicly gone gay for, for jokes. Oh and anyone in the Twilight movies. I don't know any of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/garry-shandling-is-someone-i-ve-publicly-gone-gay-for-for-jokes-oh/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [I remember seeing that scene thought and thinking like God I dont remember doing that, thats a little bit saucy, thats a little raunchy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-remember-seeing-that-scene-thought-and-thinking-like-god-i-dont/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [They say Twilight is the 1 movie because teenagers can relate to it. Yeah... I totally remember that time I was a vampire!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-twilight-is-the-1-movie-because-teenagers-can-relate-to-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I’ve always said to my agents and stuff, like, it’s going to be 10 years before people forget about Twilight, And that’s totally understandable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-ve-always-said-to-my-agents-and-stuff-like-it-s-going-to-be-10/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [In the greed-is-good tradition of the 'Harry Potter' and 'Twilight' movie franchises, the overseers of 'The Hunger Games' have split the last book into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-corliss/in-the-greed-is-good-tradition-of-the-harry-potter-and-twilight-movie/) [Richard Corliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-corliss/) ## More by Jodi Picoult > [You get through it, you just never get over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-get-through-it-you-just-never-get-over-it/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Let me guess," Eric says, "You never meant for it to happen." "Hell, yes, I did. I've wanted her since you two started dating."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/let-me-guess-eric-says-you-never-meant-for-it-to-happen-hell-yes-i/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“It’s the difference between dancing along the eggshell crust of acquaintance and diving into the messy center of a relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-the-difference-between-dancing-along-the-eggshell-crust-of/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Because hate's just the flip side of love. Like heads and tails on a dime. If you don't know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/because-hate-s-just-the-flip-side-of-love-like-heads-and-tails-on-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Some women are meant to change the world, while others are meant to hold it together. And then there are those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/some-women-are-meant-to-change-the-world-while-others-are-meant-to/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I love feeling loved. I don't love knowing that I will always come in second place. I love the fact that at least sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-love-feeling-loved-i-don-t-love-knowing-that-i-will-always-come-in/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Music is the language of memory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/music-is-the-language-of-memory/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [But there is a different between mending someone who's broken and finding someone who makes you complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-there-is-a-different-between-mending-someone-who-s-broken-and/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“sometimes words are not big enough to contain all the feelings you are trying to pour into them. My”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/sometimes-words-are-not-big-enough-to-contain-all-the-feelings-you/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“The age wasn't as important as the milestones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-age-wasn-t-as-important-as-the-milestones/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The night is falling down around us. Meteors rain like fireworks, quick rips in the seam of the dark... Every second, another streak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-night-is-falling-down-around-us-meteors-rain-like-fireworks-quick/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“When she had packed all the artifacts that made up their personal history into liquor store boxes, the house became strictly a feminine place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-she-had-packed-all-the-artifacts-that-made-up-their-personal/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-who-we-are-isn-t-so-much-about-what-we-do-but-rather-what-we-re/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Here's what I hadn't realized : the mother you haven't seen for almost 36 years isn't your mother. She is a stranger. Sharing DNA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/here-s-what-i-hadn-t-realized-the-mother-you-haven-t-seen-for-almost/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [My brother believed in all sorts of mythical creatures: pixies, dragons, werewolves, honest men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/my-brother-believed-in-all-sorts-of-mythical-creatures-pixies-dragons/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) [Explore all 2,062 Jodi Picoult quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More Favorite song quotes > [I love spin classes. I'm also very big on music, so I make a mix on my iPod that's 45 minutes to an hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-accola/i-love-spin-classes-i-m-also-very-big-on-music-so-i-make-a-mix-on-my/) [Candice Accola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-accola/) > [Life is not a music player to listen to your favorite songs... its a radio ,you must adjust to enjoy whatever comes by!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-ngr/life-is-not-a-music-player-to-listen-to-your-favorite-songs-its-a/) [Simi Ngr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-ngr/) > [My favorite song I ever wrote is 'Yeah 3x' because it was my first placement. It was with a great artist, Chris Brown, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sevyn-streeter/my-favorite-song-i-ever-wrote-is-yeah-3x-because-it-was-my-first/) [Sevyn Streeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sevyn-streeter/) > [My favorite music is never the music that anyone else likes, and other people's favorite songs are always my least favorite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grimes/my-favorite-music-is-never-the-music-that-anyone-else-likes-and-other/) [Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grimes/) > [My favorite songs change every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-marion/my-favorite-songs-change-every-year/) [Isaac Marion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-marion/) > [One of my favorite songs.. Snow partrol-chasing cars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megannn/one-of-my-favorite-songs-snow-partrol-chasing-cars/) [Megannn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megannn/) > [Be On Your Way is one of the favorite songs I've ever written. What a terribly sad song, but what a beautiful melody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/be-on-your-way-is-one-of-the-favorite-songs-i-ve-ever-written-what-a/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [My new absolute favorite song!!! On replay ALL dayyyyyy!!!! ^\_^ ^\_^ < 3333333333333 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FgqY\_x56fE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rayy/my-new-absolute-favorite-song-on-replay-all-dayyyyyy-3333333333333/) [Rayy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rayy/) > [You Don't Even Know Who I Am' by Patty Loveless is one of my absolute favorite songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-pearce/you-don-t-even-know-who-i-am-by-patty-loveless-is-one-of-my-absolute/) [Carly Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-pearce/) > [It seems like some of my favorite songs have almost like a nursery rhyme vibe to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruston-kelly/it-seems-like-some-of-my-favorite-songs-have-almost-like-a-nursery/) [Ruston Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruston-kelly/) > [Nobody's favorite movie is some dark, dysfunctional slasher story. Everybody's favorite song is a sentimental song. So why all of a sudden is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/nobody-s-favorite-movie-is-some-dark-dysfunctional-slasher-story/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Sometimes I wish youd pay more attention to my favorite songs because the lyrics they sing are the words Im too scared to say...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-wish-youd-pay-more-attention-to-my-favorite-songs-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['Lauder' is a favorite because the name of the song is a friend of mine who passed away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-d/lauder-is-a-favorite-because-the-name-of-the-song-is-a-friend-of-mine/) [J.I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-d/) > [When I listen to my heart….it plays your favorite song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/when-i-listen-to-my-heart-it-plays-your-favorite-song/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [Some of my favorite songs are slow songs, like Guns N' Roses' 'November Rain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-gilbert/some-of-my-favorite-songs-are-slow-songs-like-guns-n-roses-november/) [Chad Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-gilbert/) [Browse all 352 Favorite song quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favorite-song/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When I first met Cara, she was twelve and angry at the world. Her parents had split up, her brother was gone, and her mom was infatuated with some guy who was missing vowels in his unpronounceable last name. So I did what any other man in that situation would do: I came armed with gifts. I bought her things that I thought a twelve-year-old would love: a poster of Taylor Lautner, a Miley Cyrus CD, nail polish that glowed in the dark. \"I can't wait for the next Twilight movie,\" I babbled, when I presented her with the gifts in front of Georgie. \"My favorite song on the CD is 'If We Were a Movie.' 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