How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
There are few sights grander at eight in the morning than a six-foot-four football player scuttling through the halls in high heels, a red shock wig, and more-than-passable makeup. (3.4)
We won't argue with that. Infinite Darlene is many things, but subtle is in no way one of them.
Quote #2
"Ah'm so glad I caught you," Infinite Darlene exclaims, sounding like Scarlett O'Hara as played by Clark Gable. (3.5)
Infinite Darlene is further playing with identity here, exploring not only an indeterminate gender presentation, but a Southern accent.
Quote #3
He was a decent football player, but nowhere near as good as when he started wearing false eyelashes. (3.6)
Paul uses male pronouns the first time he tells Infinite Darlene's story, but never again. Even though he's talking about Daryl, and even though Infinite Darlene is still the quarterback on the (we assume) boys's team, he calls her "she" the rest of the time, which is the respectful thing to do.
Quote #4
The other drag queens at our school rarely sit with her at lunch; they say she doesn't take good enough care of her nails, and that she looks a little too buff in a tank top. (3.7)
Infinite Darlene can't help what her body looks like. How do you think this affects Infinite Darlene's sense of self—or does it?
Quote #5
"He wants me to march with the rest of the team. But as homecoming queen, I'm also supposed to be introducing the team. If I don't do the proper introductions, my tiara might be in doubt. Trilby Pope would take my place, which would be ghastly, ghastly, ghastly. Her boobs are faker than mine." (3.10)
Just like "the other drag queens" (see previous quote) reject Infinite Darlene, here we see Infinite Darlene returning the favor with her judgy take on Trilby Pope's boobs. Why can't these girls all just get along?
Quote #6
Infinite Darlene strides out in a pink ball gown, covered by her quarterback jersey. The homecoming king, Dave Sprat, hangs from her arm, a good thirteen inches shorter than her (if you count the heels.) (4.12)
We're digging on Levithan's use of "hangs from her arm." It could simply refer to the height difference, but check out the subtle gender twist here—when you think of someone hanging on someone else's arm, you might be reminded of the term arm candy, which usually refers to a woman.
Quote #7
And I can tell that even Infinite Darlene is taken aback, because it's clear he's seeing her just as she wants to be seen. So few people do that. (7.55)
This statement is a bit confusing, because it seems that she is seen as she wants to be seen, at least in school. And her town's about as accepting as it gets. Who do you think could be giving her the side-eye about gender?
Quote #8
This close, I can see through all her layers. Beneath the mascara and the lipstick and the chicken pox scar on her lower lip, beneath the girl and the boy to the person within, who is concerned and confused and sincere. (15.49)
Why does Infinite Darlene have to put on a veil of insincerity? And in what way does Paul mean "confused"—confused about gender, or the regular teenage confusion about life?
Quote #9
She is dressed immaculately in a vintage Charlie's Angels T-shirt and white pleather miniskirt. (I have no idea how she pulls it off. In fact, I have no idea how she pulls it on.) (18.26)
Three words: Work. It. Girl.
Quote #10
"What the hell are you doing here?!?"
This is Joni's reaction. The rest of the girls are nonchalant. They all know I'm gay, and that their boobs mean as much as their elbows to me. (19.14-15)
But what about privacy? And what about permission? Do you think there's some male privilege at work in this moment?