--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wonder why they never come back,” Shay…" description: "\"“I wonder why they never come back,” Shay said. “Just to visit.” Tally swallowed. “Because we’re so ugly, Skinny, that’s why.”\" — Scott Westerfeld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/scott-westerfeld-928_shay-said_i-wonder-why-they-never-come-back-shay-s_3220951.png" --- # I wonder why they never come back,” Shay said. “Just to… ![“I wonder why they never come back,” Shay said. “Just to visit.” Tally swallowed. “Because we’re so ugly, Skinny, that’s why.” quote by Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/scott-westerfeld-928_shay-said_i-wonder-why-they-never-come-back-shay-s_3220951.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/scott-westerfeld-928_shay-said_i-wonder-why-they-never-come-back-shay-s_3220951.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/scott-westerfeld-928_shay-said_i-wonder-why-they-never-come-back-shay-s_3220951.png) > ““I wonder why they never come back,” Shay said. “Just to visit.” Tally swallowed. “Because we’re so ugly, Skinny, that’s why.”” [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character laments feeling unattractive and excluded, highlighting social alienation. **In simple terms:** Feeling ugly leads to isolation and longing for acceptance. Key Takeaway Seek self‑acceptance beyond appearance. Themes beauty alienation self‑esteem social pressure Mood melancholic contemplative Type literary social commentary When to use this quote - school environments - online communities - media representation Key Concepts body image peer acceptance identity formation Questions to Reflect On - What defines true beauty? - How can societies reduce appearance‑based discrimination? A Different Perspective The quote may reinforce harmful beauty standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Come Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-shay-6055465/) [Shay Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shay-said-987972/) [Swallowed Ugly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swallowed-ugly-6055464/) [Tally Swallowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tally-swallowed-6055463/) [Ugly Skinny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ugly-skinny-3856525/) ## Related quotes > [Why are you still wearing...?" Aya began. "Oh, that's not smart plastic? You're really an ugly?" David rolled his eyes and Shay said quietly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/why-are-you-still-wearing-aya-began-oh-that-s-not-smart-plastic-you/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“Milly is not, in fact, ugly, but she might as well be. She has a pretty face, which is the same thing as ugly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/milly-is-not-in-fact-ugly-but-she-might-as-well-be-she-has-a-pretty/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [“What happened to me?" he muttered. "I don't look so good. I go from cute and fat to ugly and skinny. Why can't I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-chu/what-happened-to-me-he-muttered-i-don-t-look-so-good-i-go-from-cute/) [Wesley Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-chu/) > [“He told me how special you are," he said, flashing Shay an unfriendly smile. "Because of your great-great-times-a-hundred-grandmother Eira who got us into this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/he-told-me-how-special-you-are-he-said-flashing-shay-an-unfriendly/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [“Music doesn’t soothe the savage beast, Cal,” Shay said, dipping me so low my hair brushed the floor. “Laughter does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/music-doesn-t-soothe-the-savage-beast-cal-shay-said-dipping-me-so-low/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [“Shay," she said. "Shay McKenna," as if trying out his name, saying it for the first time. "Did you ever love me, even a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-williamson/shay-she-said-shay-mckenna-as-if-trying-out-his-name-saying-it-for/) [Penelope Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-williamson/) > [“You think it’s funny?” Shay said with annoyance. “Yes.” Her friend paused to get her laughter under control. “I’m sorry. It’s just that you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-brookes/you-think-it-s-funny-shay-said-with-annoyance-yes-her-friend-paused/) [Lindsey Brookes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-brookes/) > [“Family's not a thing, it's a place,' Shay said softly. 'It's where all the memories get kept.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/family-s-not-a-thing-it-s-a-place-shay-said-softly-it-s-where-all-the/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More by Scott Westerfeld > [“She thought of the orchids spreading across the plains below, choking the life out of the other plants, out of the soil itself, selfish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/she-thought-of-the-orchids-spreading-across-the-plains-below-choking/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [But it's always taking a risk, when you ... kiss someone new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/but-it-s-always-taking-a-risk-when-you-kiss-someone-new/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [The Rusty Ruins were the remains of an old city, a hulking reminder of back when there'd been way too many people, and everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/the-rusty-ruins-were-the-remains-of-an-old-city-a-hulking-reminder-of/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [High school wasn't a trial by fire or some ordeal that had to be survived. It was all a big joke. You just had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/high-school-wasn-t-a-trial-by-fire-or-some-ordeal-that-had-to-be/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [And you've actually watched it yourself?' I asked. 'Willingly?' Sure. I had to see it, you know? Besides we should be safe. Only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/and-you-ve-actually-watched-it-yourself-i-asked-willingly-sure-i-had/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Sometimes, the hardest thing was doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/sometimes-the-hardest-thing-was-doing-nothing/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“Sure, zombies can “be a metaphor.” They can represent the oppressed, as in Land of the Dead, or humanity’s feral nature, as in 28…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/sure-zombies-can-be-a-metaphor-they-can-represent-the-oppressed-as-in/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“You don't look very happy." Tally tried to smile. David had shared his biggest secret with her; she should tell him hers. But she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/you-don-t-look-very-happy-tally-tried-to-smile-david-had-shared-his/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Dude, I just watched you climb up a f\*cking building!-Lace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/dude-i-just-watched-you-climb-up-a-f-cking-building-lace/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“Weird, even for one of us. Or maybe she's worse." "Worse how?" "Normal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/weird-even-for-one-of-us-or-maybe-she-s-worse-worse-how-normal/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Tally smiled. At least she was causing trouble to the end. "I'm Tally Youngblood," she said. "make me pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/tally-smiled-at-least-she-was-causing-trouble-to-the-end-i-m-tally/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Out here, you find out that the city fools you about how things really work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/out-here-you-find-out-that-the-city-fools-you-about-how-things-really/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“Growing up like rewriting is simply admitting how clueless you were not so long ago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/growing-up-like-rewriting-is-simply-admitting-how-clueless-you-were/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“The beauty of the world…has two edges, one of laughter, one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder. —Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/the-beauty-of-the-world-has-two-edges-one-of-laughter-one-of-anguish/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Cure for writer's block: blow something up(in the story)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/cure-for-writer-s-block-blow-something-up-in-the-story/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) [Explore all 321 Scott Westerfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) ## More Shay Said quotes > [“He told me how special you are," he said, flashing Shay an unfriendly smile. "Because of your great-great-times-a-hundred-grandmother Eira who got us into this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/he-told-me-how-special-you-are-he-said-flashing-shay-an-unfriendly/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [“Music doesn’t soothe the savage beast, Cal,” Shay said, dipping me so low my hair brushed the floor. “Laughter does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/music-doesn-t-soothe-the-savage-beast-cal-shay-said-dipping-me-so-low/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [“Shay," she said. "Shay McKenna," as if trying out his name, saying it for the first time. "Did you ever love me, even a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-williamson/shay-she-said-shay-mckenna-as-if-trying-out-his-name-saying-it-for/) [Penelope Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-williamson/) > [“You think it’s funny?” Shay said with annoyance. “Yes.” Her friend paused to get her laughter under control. “I’m sorry. It’s just that you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-brookes/you-think-it-s-funny-shay-said-with-annoyance-yes-her-friend-paused/) [Lindsey Brookes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-brookes/) > [“Family's not a thing, it's a place,' Shay said softly. 'It's where all the memories get kept.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/family-s-not-a-thing-it-s-a-place-shay-said-softly-it-s-where-all-the/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Why are you still wearing...?" Aya began. "Oh, that's not smart plastic? You're really an ugly?" David rolled his eyes and Shay said quietly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/why-are-you-still-wearing-aya-began-oh-that-s-not-smart-plastic-you/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) [Browse all 7 Shay Said quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shay-said-987972/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I wonder why they never come back,” Shay said. “Just to visit.” Tally swallowed. “Because we’re so ugly, Skinny, that’s why.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Scott Westerfeld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/i-wonder-why-they-never-come-back-shay-said-just-to-visit-tally/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Shay Said" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/i-wonder-why-they-never-come-back-shay-said-just-to-visit-tally/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/scott-westerfeld-928_shay-said_i-wonder-why-they-never-come-back-shay-s_3220951.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/scott-westerfeld-928_shay-said_i-wonder-why-they-never-come-back-shay-s_3220951.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/scott-westerfeld-928_shay-said_i-wonder-why-they-never-come-back-shay-s_3220951.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wonder why they never come back,” Shay said. “Just to visit.” Tally swallowed. “Because we’re so ugly…” — Scott Westerfeld", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Scott Westerfeld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I wonder why they never come...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/i-wonder-why-they-never-come-back-shay-said-just-to-visit-tally/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/i-wonder-why-they-never-come-back-shay-said-just-to-visit-tally/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```