How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Was his fascination with playing house the first indication I had that Liam was different? In his head and heart he knew he was a girl? That he was transgender. (2.21)
Although Luna's always been physically male, her identity has always been female—after all, she wants to play Mommy when they play house.
Quote #2
"Dad, I told you, I have to work. What do you want me to do, quit my job so I can stay home and cook your dinner? Clean your house? Wash your clothes—" (2.80)
Seriously—everyone treats Regan like she's going to be a mini version of her mom just because she's a girl. Isn't it a little ironic that Regan doesn't want to do normal girl things, whereas Liam is jumping at the chance to help out?
Quote #3
"Liam." He let out a short laugh. "Who's that? A caricature I've created. A puppet, a mime, a cartoon character. I'm this male macho version of a son that Dad has in his head." (3.76)
It's true—the Liam that everyone knows isn't even a real person. It's a façade that Liam puts on in order to fit in and keep things cool with the parental units.
Quote #4
Bruchac'd never figure out the joke. And if he did, maybe he'd figure out something else—I wasn't Liam. (4.105)
Regan and Luna are so intertwined as siblings that it can be hard for people to realize that they're not the same person. Heck, it's even difficult for Regan to see herself as a separate person.
Quote #5
His room still creeped me out. It was stark. Cold. Abandoned. (8.85)
Because her bedroom has to reflect her male presentation, Luna keeps it bare and unadorned. She can't express any part of her identity through her surroundings.
Quote #6
That's what he called it—the locked steamer trunk that contained his life. His desired life. The girl clothes. The makeup. He'd even wired the trunk with an alarm system. (8.105)
Poor, Luna—her whole identity has to literally be locked up in a trunk. She can't bring it out and wear it freely like everyone else does.
Quote #7
Monday morning Liam was back to his old self—hollow boy. I could deal with that. So could he. Hopefully he was over this whole transition phase. (12.8)
When Luna has to hide her true identity, she becomes a "hollow boy." She can't be vibrant or full of life because her life isn't what she wants it to be.
Quote #8
Me? I had no dreams. No longings. Dreams only set you up for disappointment. Plus, you have to have a life to have dreams of a better life. (12.23)
Regan's whole identity and life are so consumed by Luna's problems that she doesn't have the time to consider what she wants out of life and to think about what her dreams are.
Quote #9
"I've been asking around about you and nobody seems to know who you are." (16.10)
Instead of cultivating an identity, Regan is content to just hide in the shadows. That's why Chris has a hard time figuring out who she is—even once they start dating.
Quote #10
They'd always see me as Regan—the one with the transgender brother. I'd never be able to separate from him. Never have my own identity. (23.3)
Regan seriously resents Luna sometimes because it's like her problems are larger than life and end up swallowing up Regan's own life. Even though she wants to deal with her normal teenage problems, she can't help but get swept up in Luna's issues.