How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Besides, in Europe, money buys everything. But with us, it's family that counts. Family."
That was another true fact. I let it soak into Louise and Beatrice. (1.38-39)
With Helena there's no question about it: family is the most important thing. Ever. So from the start of the book, she lets us know that her mice family is number one on her priority list.
Quote #2
We are Mice, and as Mother used to say, we are among the very First Families of the land. We were here before the squirrels. (1.46)
Family in this book isn't just about brothers and sisters—it's about countries, too. The Cranston mice are a pretty old family, so they've seen a ton of America's history unfold. When Helena's mom says that they're one of the "First Families," this means the Cranston mice have been on American soil for a really long time, a fact that makes Helena super proud.
Quote #3
Of course, we're all family. They were Cranstons Upstairs. We were Cranstons down here. But nothing good comes of too much mixing. (4.8)
Helena sure is protective of her family. Louise has been visiting Camilla at night, and Helena doesn't like it one bit. What do you think of the way Helena talks about her family here? On the one hand, it's pretty sweet that she thinks the mice and humans are all Cranstons together; but then again, she also doesn't want "too much mixing." What do you make of this contradiction?
Quote #4
Besides, I had joys and sorrows to share with Louise. Why was that not enough for her? Why was I not enough? I stared at the ceiling, and all my worries crowded round my matchbox. (4.9)
Family isn't always a comfort for Helena—in fact, sometimes she feels super lonely. You might think that with three siblings Helena would never get some time to herself, but it turns out that she actually wants more time with her bro and sisters. Check out how Helena asks lots of questions here. She's definitely searching for answers about why she feels so lonely despite her big family.
Quote #5
But Aunt Fannie did a strange thing then. Mysterious. "Here is how you hold your family together," she said. Then she put out both her old hands, stretched wide open.
"That's how you hold on to family." She thrust her wide-open hands right at me. Right in my face.
But what could that mean? What in the world? (5.106-108)
Aunt Fannie gives Helena some advice about keeping her family tight-knit, but Helena has no idea what this advice means. All Helena wants is to take care of her siblings and she's having a tough time figuring out how to do so. Can you tell how frustrated Helena is here? She really wants to figure out Aunt Fannie's family-bonding secret.
Quote #6
I could have wept. (7.78-81)
Poor Helena has a heavy burden to bear—she's trying to protect her family, but she ends up out in the cold. It sounds to us like Helena feels pretty left out without her siblings. What do you think about how Helena feels? Is she justified in feeling left out? Or is she overreacting?
Quote #7
"This is an opportunity tragically lost," the Duchess declared. "How important these ocean voyages are when people are thrown together. Dynasties have been decided. And so we must take steps. It is all for the sake of family."
And that, of course, is a thing I've always believed. (9.72-73)
The Duchess and Helena have at least one thing in common: they both believe family is the most important thing in the whole wide world. And when it comes to family, they're talking about mice and humans. Do you think mice families and human families work the same way in this book? Or are Helena and the Duchess mistaken?
Quote #8
As the evening of the royal reception approached, the time drew nigh to pay our way. But how would we even get to the Royal Suite? We bickered for days—rough days and smooth, under Camilla's bed, and at our end of the yardstick. (10.1)
Things aren't always fine and dandy for these mice sisters—in fact, they hardly agree on anything. And once Louise and Beatrice become a bit bolder and are willing to stand up to Helena, all bets are off. These three just can't see eye to eye. So when do they fight? All the time, apparently. Check out how they are fighting all over the ship.
Quote #9
With that Louise went sound asleep on the crushed lily of the valley. I tossed until dawn broke through the portholes. Then back Beatrice came. She was just about to drop into the jewelry case when she saw Louise's sleeping form. She drew up a hand. Then she nuzzled in between us. Her nose nestled near my ear, and she snored convincingly.
But I was not deceived. (12.59-60)
Aw—the mice sisters are sleeping together. That's so sweet. They definitely have a close bond, but this doesn't mean everything is perfect between them. In fact, Louise and Helena have just been gossiping about Beatrice—and Beatrice is pretending to sleep because she snuck out of bed in the middle of the night. Looks like family in this book is full of sweet times and some secrets, to boot.
Quote #10
I remembered the day I'd gone to her through the hedge to learn about our futures. I recalled her extending both her old hands stretched wide." "This is how you hold on to your family," she had said."
You hold them with open hands so they are free to find futures of their own. It's just that simple. (16.27-28)
Back in the day, Aunt Fannie gave Helena some confusing advice about family. But now Helena has cracked the code: holding onto family is all about letting go. That's one hard lesson to learn, especially for someone as clingy as Helena.