How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
She changed into her pajamas, lay down, and imagined the words A SUPERHERO SQUIRREL RESTED AT HER FEET, AND SO SHE WAS NOT LONELY AT ALL emblazoned on the ceiling above her. (12.3)
A general rule of thumb is if you try to convince yourself that you're not lonely, you usually are. Here Flora wants to prove her mom wrong by showing she doesn't need any friends, but the truth is, she is pretty isolated from everyone else.
Quote #2
Flora is very lonely. She spends far too much time reading comics. I've tried to break her of the habit, but I'm very busy with my novel writing and she is alone a lot. I'm worried that it has made her strange. (17.21)
Her mom has no problem telling people—even people Flora's just met, like William—that her daughter is lonely. We feel for Flora here, but her mom's got a point. We like to think that the journey Flora takes in the book is partly about finding herself, but also partly about letting others in once in the while.
Quote #3
Things, in general, were pretty confusing. For instance, here was Ulysses, sitting in a shoe box, knowing that there was a shovel in the trunk of the car and that the man driving the car had been instructed to whack him over the head with the shovel, and the squirrel didn't look worried or afraid. He looked happy. (25.2)
Poor Flora. Even her own parents lie to her about what they are planning (gulp) for Ulysses. We'd probably feel all alone, too, if our parents wanted to kill our new—and only—BFF.
Quote #4
He blinked. His head hurt. The gigantic eye was mesmerizing and beautiful. It was like staring at a small planet, a whole sad and lonely world. (37.2)
When Dr. Meescham brings Ulysses back from his run in with the door, we're told it from his perspective. We love the positive way our squirrel friend usually sees things, but here he gets a sense of loneliness from Dr. M and the world in general.
Quote #5
The giant squid is the loneliest of all God's creatures. He can sometimes go for the whole of his life without seeing another of his kind. (38.25)
The painting Flora sees in Dr. Meescham's house isn't a happy-go-luck image at all; in fact, it's downright depressing. Yet Flora is captivated by it, perhaps because she too is isolated from society.
Quote #6
Yes, well, loneliness makes us do terrible things," said Dr. Meescham. "And that is why the picture is there, to remind me of this. Also, because the other Dr. Meescham painted it when he was young and joyful. (38.28)
As Dr. M tells her about the picture, Flora starts to feel a connection with the squid. Why stop at a squirrel when a giant squid could be your friend. Have you ever felt like the squid—all alone in the world, like no one else is similar to you?
Quote #7
"Your father is a lonely man," said Dr. Meescham. "Also, very sad. To leave you, this broke his heart." (39.15)
For some reason, this surprises Flora. She's not used to seeing a vulnerable side to her dad, and she's usually too caught up in her own drama with her mom to even notice what's happening with him anyway. Perhaps that's why George is always introducing himself to people; he wants some friends.
Quote #8
I took issue with being so addressed. I repeatedly took issue. And after repeatedly taking issue and repeatedly being ignored, one thing led to another and some irrevocable acts occurred. And thus, I was banished. (48.30)
William tells Flora why he was kicked out of his house and is now on his own. His isolation is a little different from Flora's, because he doesn't choose for his mom to dump him. We feel sad for William, especially because he seems to want some friends and family.
Quote #9
William Spiver said, "I meant what I said. I'm here because I was looking for you. I missed you." Flora's heart, the lonely, many-armed squid of it, flipped and flailed inside of her. (48.38)
We'd like to point out how Flora describes herself using the giant, lonely squid. It turns out she doesn't love being alone after all. It's not until William comes along that Flora finally realizes that maybe there are other people out there like her, and that she doesn't have to isolate herself from everyone.
Quote #10
It was a picture of Alfred T. Slipper standing at a darkened window. His hands were behind his back and Dolores was on his shoulder, and Alfred was looking out the window and saying, "I am alone in the world, Dolores, and I am homesick for my own kind." (51.34)
Flora feels the same way as Slipper, which is funny, because she's only used his story in the past to tell us what it's like for an unlikely superhero such as Ulysses. Here, we see that she's lonely and wants company, but not just any company. She wants people to actually get her for who she is.