Quotes from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“But it's hard to leave a place when you're tied to it by fear, when it's broken you with fear, when it's all you've ever known.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“He lived in a dreamer's world of ivory keys and messy shirts, unconcerned with the people around him.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“I am going to die, her brain recited calmly. I am going to be stabbed until I am died. How infuriating. I have so much left to do.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“Being nothing felt quite the same as being something. Maybe she had never been something at all.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“But how can she change a person like that? said Victoria.

She just can. I'd never have thought before, ever, that I could hate music and want to leave it behind, but now--

Lawrence Prewitt, said Victoria. Her voice was shaking, but she stood up and put on such a fierce dazzle that even Donovan seemed to wake up. Don't you dare ever start talking like that again, or when I get out of here, I'll leave you behind with the gofers. Lawrence smiled. I've missed your threats, Vicky.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“This marking, said Victoria, running her finger over a knot in the bark. What does it look like to you?
It looks like a heart, said Lawrence. He put his fingers on the knot too. They brushed Victoria's, and he drew back. I mean, not that I think about things like that, or--well, you know.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“I’m not like her. I don’t steal people.”

Mr. Tibbalt watched her, saying nothing.

The silence made Victoria bristle. “Well, I don’t.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“If you weren't, well, you--I'd want to kiss you right now. It was fortunate that the room was so dark. Victoria's cheeks turned bright red.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“Victoria hated messes. She hated distractions. Friends were the worst distraction of all.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“But you’re supposed to play music, obviously,” said Victoria.
Lawrence looked at her in surprise.
“You mean it? I thought you hated it.”
“I do mean it,” said Victoria. She felt pretty shocked herself. “It’s annoying sometimes—well, a lot of the time, really—but it’s obviously the thing you’re best at, so why shouldn’t you do it?” Embarrassed at how happy Lawrence looked, she tried to smooth the wrinkles out of her dirty pajamas. “I mean, it’s only logical, isn’t it?”

“If you weren’t, well, you—I’d want to kiss you right now.”
It was fortunate that the room was so dark. Victoria’s cheeks turned bright red.
“Well,” she said. “Well.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“They headed back into the maze of gardens. The shrubberies seemed to crawl. Victoria ignored them, pushing past thorns and brambles and suspiciously roachlike leaves, concentrating not on them but on the pinching grip of Lawrence's fingers. Hmm, she thought. I suppose this is actually somewhat useful. She didn't so much mind holding his hand from that moment on.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“You were looking for me?

Victoria wondered if she would be red for the rest of her life. Yes.

Isn't that something. Perfect ice queen Victoria looking for skunkish old me.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“…and so what I really mean is,” finished Lawrence, his face turning quite red, “sometimes, the counselors or professors or Mom and Dad say ‘Don’t you care that you don’t have many friends?’ And I say, ‘Not really. Because I have Vicky.’”
Then Lawrence had folded up the letter and shoved it in his pocket. “So…you know. I mean, I really like that we’re friends is what I’m saying. Happy birthday.”
Victoria had been so embarrassed that she had said, “Well…you…I…that’s very nice,” and then ignored him for the rest of the week.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“Victoria pushed it open the rest of the way and stepped inside. She left it open in case she needed to make a quick exit. The fact that she had to think about things like quick exits infuriated her.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

“Wh-wh—“ Victoria tried to say, “What are you doing?” but the words would not come. Fear had seized her and would not let go.
I am going to die, her brain recited calmly. I am going to be stabbed until I am dead. How infuriating. I have so much left to do.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

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BookQuoters is a community of passionate readers who enjoy sharing the most meaningful, memorable and interesting quotes from great books. As the world communicates more and more via texts, memes and sound bytes, short but profound quotes from books have become more relevant and important. For some of us a quote becomes a mantra, a goal or a philosophy by which we live. For all of us, quotes are a great way to remember a book and to carry with us the author’s best ideas.

We thoughtfully gather quotes from our favorite books, both classic and current, and choose the ones that are most thought-provoking. Each quote represents a book that is interesting, well written and has potential to enhance the reader’s life. We also accept submissions from our visitors and will select the quotes we feel are most appealing to the BookQuoters community.

Founded in 2023, BookQuoters has quickly become a large and vibrant community of people who share an affinity for books. Books are seen by some as a throwback to a previous world; conversely, gleaning the main ideas of a book via a quote or a quick summary is typical of the Information Age but is a habit disdained by some diehard readers. We feel that we have the best of both worlds at BookQuoters; we read books cover-to-cover but offer you some of the highlights. We hope you’ll join us.