How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Why would Grandpa Sorenson keep a place like this a secret? It was magnificent! Why go through all the trouble of maintaining it if not to enjoy it? Hundreds of people could gather here with room to spare. (4.84)
When Kendra and Seth discover the hidden pond on their grandparents' land, they're puzzled because it's so beautiful. Why hide something so amazing instead of putting it to use? Of course, they don't know about magic yet, so they have no clue that even very beautiful things can be very dangerous.
Quote #2
"Fairies are vain, selfish creatures. You may have noticed I drained all the fountains and the birdbaths outside. When they are full, the fairies assemble to stare at their reflections all day." (5.162)
According to Grandpa, fairies are really concerned with how they look. They can spend hours upon hours just staring at their reflections: in a pool of still water, in a mirror, or whatever. So fairies and appearances go together like peanut butter and jelly.
Quote #3
"They despise me there, all the more intensely because of their secret envy. How they would laugh at my appearance! They have not aged a day. But I have experienced many things that they will never know." (6.38)
When Kendra and Lena are talking about Lena's past as a naiad, Kendra asks if Lena ever goes back to the naiad pond. The answer is nope. Part of this is because the naiads secretly envy/hate Lena, and part of it is because they'll mock her for getting old—apparently in naiad-land, being forever young is the only way to go. They must love Barbie.
Quote #4
"Their personalities remain the same," Grandpa said. "Shallow and self-absorbed. The change in appearance reveals the tragic side of that mind-set. Vanity curdles into misery. They become spiteful and jealous, wallowing in wretchedness." (8.94)
Imps are like the flipside of fairies, not just in terms of appearance, but also their personalities. According to Grandpa, they go from being fun-loving and frolicking to miserable and wretched, but both mindsets are rooted in how vain and shallow they are at heart.
Quote #5
Muriel extended a hand over Seth […] His blubber rippled as if he were boiling inside. It looked like thousands of worms were under his skin, squirming to find a way out. Putrid vapor fumed up from his flesh. His fat appeared to be evaporating. His misshapen body convulsed. (8.175)
This is not a pretty sight. Seth looks pretty strange after the fairies take revenge on him for transforming one of them into an imp—and while we get why the fairies are bummed, this seems like a pretty extreme response. We don't learn if it hurts Seth or not, but we're guessing it doesn't feel pleasant.
Quote #6
"Some of the most insidious tricks employed tonight will involve artifice and illusion. Without the milk you could be even more susceptible. It would only broaden their ability to mask their true appearance." (9.169)
Right before Midsummer Eve, Kendra asks Lena whether they should've skipped the milk that morning—that would mean they wouldn't be able to see any of the magic creatures for what they are. Lena disagrees with that thought, saying that the magic creatures will already be trying to fool the humans into doing, well, whatever—probably not good things. So any insight the humans can have into the creatures' true appearances may be helpful.
Quote #7
Kendra saw everything as if through fun-house lenses. Muriel appeared distorted, first stretching broad, then tall. Seth became an hourglass with a wide head, a tiny waist, and clownish feet. Rubbing her eyes failed to cure her warped vision. (13.164)
When Muriel disenchants Grandma from chicken-form, everything looks all crazy—Kendra compares it to being in a fun-house, which doesn't seem too far off base. Why does the appearance of everything around them become distorted when magic is being used? We're not sure, but it's kinda freaky.
Quote #8
A tall, beautiful woman with a lustrous cascade of honey-blonde hair stood beside the recess blowing on one of the many knots. She wore a spectacular azure gown that emphasized her seductive figure. (16.34)
What is this sexy lady doing in the basement of a chapel? Turns out she's Muriel, but Muriel with a very different appearance—she's no longer an old hag, and instead she's young and beautiful. Is this an illusion? Did she actually manage to change her body composition? We have no idea… but even if it's a superficial illusion, we're still a little freaked out by Muriel's ability to manipulate appearances.
Quote #9
The fairies were uniformly tall and beautiful, with the lithe musculature of professional ballerinas […] They still had magnificent wings. They still emitted light, although the gentle twinkle had become a brilliant blaze. The biggest change was in their eyes. Merry mischief had been replaced by something stern and smoldering. (18.40)
When Kendra carries out the Fairy Queen's instructions to make an elixir, the fairies that drink it become human-sized and a little intimidating—their appearances on the surface are more or less the same, they're just bigger. The main change Kendra notices is in their intensity, and in how their eyes are suddenly very serious.
Quote #10
Then a face rose almost to the surface of the water, right at the end of the dock. It was Lena. Her hair was still white with a few black strands. Though she looked no younger, her face had the same ageless quality. (19.36)
At the end of the demon-binding, the fairies snatch Lena up and bring her back to the naiad pond. This takes away Lena's memories of her human life, essentially making her into an immortal yet ephemeral being once more. As Kendra sees, Lena's appearance hasn't really changed, but at the same time, the fact that she's living and breathing underwater is a pretty big clue that she's no longer the friendly housekeeper she once was.