How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
She had Poppy. She had friends. And she had Mrs. Murdo, who was somewhere between a relative and a friend. But she felt as if she had suddenly gotten older in the last three days. She was sort of a mother herself now. What happened to Poppy was more or less up to her. (11.17)
Lina's thought process here shows how Mrs. Murdo is becoming a part of her little family, and how Lina herself is taking on a different role. Towards the end of Granny's life, Lina had to step up and take care of Granny more than Granny was taking care of her, but in theory Granny was the one in charge. Now Lina is realizing that she's Poppy's oldest remaining relative, so in a sense, she's completely responsible for what happens to Poppy from now on. Kinda scary, no?
Quote #8
Everyone in the city must have seen these posters by now. He was famous, he thought wryly, but not in the way he'd wanted. There were be no glorious moment on the Gathering Hall steps after all. Instead of making his father proud, he would cause him dreadful worry. (17.3)
Doon's really motivated to succeed and fix things, in part because he wants his dad to be proud of him. That doesn't work out so well when he and Lina become two of Ember's most wanted criminals for trying to expose the mayor's treachery. This probably isn't going to be a touching moment that makes Ol' Pops proud. How would you feel if you saw a family member's face on a wanted poster? Epic fail.
Quote #9
"I'd been thinking before that I had to leave Poppy because she'd be safe with Mrs. Murdo. But when the lights went out, I suddenly knew: There is no safety in Ember. Not for long. Not for anyone. I couldn't leave her behind. Whatever happens to us now, it's better than what's going to happen there." (18.56)
It must be scary to love someone as much as Lina loves Poppy, and to have to decide whether to leave them in an unsafe situation, or bring them along into an unknown situation, which could potentially be better or worse. But let's face it: what could be worse than starving to death in complete darkness, once the food and light bulbs and electricity all run out?