“Sometimes it's hard to know which qualities really define you, and which ones have been affixed to you by others so many times that you actually begin to believe them and claim them as your own.”
―
Jessica Goodman,
They Wish They Were Us
“It’s easy to convince yourself of something if you just pretend it’s the truth.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“Why did the boys have the power? Why did they make the rules while we dealt with the consequences?” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“They say only the good die young, but that’s just a line in a stupid song we used to sing. It isn’t real. It isn’t true. I know that because Shaila Arnold was so many things—brilliant and funny, confident and wild. But honestly? She wasn’t all that good.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“We'd growl and snarl until a calm settled in, and after that, we could continue throughout the day, holding hands and skipping around the house, as if nothing had happened at all. As if that's just how sisters act. But it is, though. How sisters act. Brutal and tender and out for blood.” ― Jessica Goodman
“How can something so violent be my home.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“even though going out for a jog can make you feel alive and whole and powerful, it also leave you vulnerable and alone. But we keep running anyway. Because we have no other choice. We run in spite of this. We run knowing the dangers, knowing who we are and why we could be targeted. But that won't stop us” ― Jessica Goodman
“The world breaks little girls. It stomps out our will, our joy, our curiosity—and replaces them with disdain, cynicism, and the need to fit into neat and tiny boxes. I learned that young, in kindergarten, when the other kids called Stella a show-off for raising her hand during class, or when the boys in first grade said I was bossy for leading a reading circle. When Stella and I would overhear the other moms at the Elite Youth Runner’s Club: The Steckler sisters are just a little much. That’s how we were described while the boys were sprinting around the playground kicking and screaming, breaking and biting. The world doesn’t celebrate girls who take up space, who demand to be heard, who are just a little much.” ― Jessica Goodman, They'll Never Catch Us
“It's fucked," I said, though I wasn't sure what I was talking about- Shaila's death, Adams imminent departure or the idea that we're supposed to live and die all in the same life. Doesn't that seem like too much to bear?” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“For a second, I wonder if they know me at all—or if I’ve changed so much that I barely remember myself.” ― Jessica Goodman, The Counselors
“What do we do now?" I asked, trying to silence the screams in my head."We go on" Adam said. "We keep going".I nodded but I did not ask my next question. How?” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“You're just like me", she said softly in a maternal voice. "Scared. Young". My stomach sank. Those didn't sound like good things. "You'll survive, though", she continued. "We're the strong ones".” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“Their conversation continued as they debated the merits of Mario’s and Luigi’s, the two competing slice spots in town.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“darkness” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“They wish they were us.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“I made peace with the fact that I was tossed out of a world that I never really wanted to be in in the first place.” ― Jessica Goodman, The Counselors
“sticking to the status quo.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“someone else I know is guilty.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“Life is so short, I am finally learning. But if I can love and be loved all at the same time, I’m not sure I mind.’ ” ― Jessica Goodman, They'll Never Catch Us
“It’s easy to convince yourself of something if you just pretend it’s the truth.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“Why did the boys have the power? Why did they make the rules while we dealt with the consequences?” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“They say only the good die young, but that’s just a line in a stupid song we used to sing. It isn’t real. It isn’t true. I know that because Shaila Arnold was so many things—brilliant and funny, confident and wild. But honestly? She wasn’t all that good.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“We'd growl and snarl until a calm settled in, and after that, we could continue throughout the day, holding hands and skipping around the house, as if nothing had happened at all. As if that's just how sisters act. But it is, though. How sisters act. Brutal and tender and out for blood.” ― Jessica Goodman
“How can something so violent be my home.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“even though going out for a jog can make you feel alive and whole and powerful, it also leave you vulnerable and alone. But we keep running anyway. Because we have no other choice. We run in spite of this. We run knowing the dangers, knowing who we are and why we could be targeted. But that won't stop us” ― Jessica Goodman
“The world breaks little girls. It stomps out our will, our joy, our curiosity—and replaces them with disdain, cynicism, and the need to fit into neat and tiny boxes. I learned that young, in kindergarten, when the other kids called Stella a show-off for raising her hand during class, or when the boys in first grade said I was bossy for leading a reading circle. When Stella and I would overhear the other moms at the Elite Youth Runner’s Club: The Steckler sisters are just a little much. That’s how we were described while the boys were sprinting around the playground kicking and screaming, breaking and biting. The world doesn’t celebrate girls who take up space, who demand to be heard, who are just a little much.” ― Jessica Goodman, They'll Never Catch Us
“It's fucked," I said, though I wasn't sure what I was talking about- Shaila's death, Adams imminent departure or the idea that we're supposed to live and die all in the same life. Doesn't that seem like too much to bear?” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“For a second, I wonder if they know me at all—or if I’ve changed so much that I barely remember myself.” ― Jessica Goodman, The Counselors
“What do we do now?" I asked, trying to silence the screams in my head."We go on" Adam said. "We keep going".I nodded but I did not ask my next question. How?” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“You're just like me", she said softly in a maternal voice. "Scared. Young". My stomach sank. Those didn't sound like good things. "You'll survive, though", she continued. "We're the strong ones".” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“Their conversation continued as they debated the merits of Mario’s and Luigi’s, the two competing slice spots in town.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“darkness” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“They wish they were us.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“I made peace with the fact that I was tossed out of a world that I never really wanted to be in in the first place.” ― Jessica Goodman, The Counselors
“sticking to the status quo.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“someone else I know is guilty.” ― Jessica Goodman, They Wish They Were Us
“Life is so short, I am finally learning. But if I can love and be loved all at the same time, I’m not sure I mind.’ ” ― Jessica Goodman, They'll Never Catch Us
Read More! Learn More!