“Speaking of tongues, they are the main reason I'm a nervous wreck. Ryan is a senior and well, sadly, I'm not all that experienced with boys. I mean, I'm a freshman and have been to dances with boys my age and even have gone out with boys, but I've never really kissed them. Not like I hope to kiss Ryan anyway. Bobby Robinson did shove his tongue into my mouth one time, when we were kissing under the bleachers at a football game, but it didn't feel so good. I'm pretty sure he didn't have it exactly right. So I talked to my friends, Katie and Lisa, about how to properly make out. But, well, here is just a bit of their unhelpful advice.Just let him take the lead, do what ever he does.Um, couldn't that get me into a lot of trouble?Just sort of kiss his tongue, but try not to drool.Don't open your mouth too wide.And then, just open your mouth wide.See?Stupid, conflicting information.And this from girls who supposedly know how to do this!I feel like I'm an undercover CIA agent trying to wrestle vital information out of a ruthless double agent, and the fate of the free world depends upon it. All the while, the President is yelling at me in a panic, saying, Somebody! Anybody! Just get me the truth!”
Quote Analysis
In this quote from Jillian Dodd's novel, the protagonist expresses her anxiety and lack of experience when it comes to boys and kissing. She reflects on a past awkward encounter and seeks advice from her friends, but finds their guidance confusing and unhelpful. The humorous comparison of her situation to a high-stakes espionage mission adds a light-hearted touch to her inner turmoil. Through this passage, Dodd captures the awkwardness and uncertainty that often accompany teenage relationships and first experiences.
Modern Relevance
In this excerpt from Jillian Dodd's novel, the protagonist is navigating the complexities of teenage romance and grappling with the pressure to navigate the unfamiliar terrain of kissing and intimacy. This struggle is relatable to many young individuals today who may feel anxious or unsure about their own experiences with relationships and physical affection. The conflicting advice from friends reflects the often confusing and contradictory messages that young people may receive about dating and intimacy in the modern world. It highlights the need for open and honest communication about boundaries, consent, and expectations in romantic relationships to ensure a positive and respectful experience for all parties involved.
Example of Usage
In the book That Boy by Jillian Dodd, the protagonist expresses her nervousness and lack of experience when it comes to kissing boys. She seeks advice from her friends, only to receive conflicting and unhelpful tips on how to properly make out. This humorous passage highlights the awkwardness and confusion that often accompanies teenage relationships and intimacy.
Reflection Questions:
In this passage, Jillian Dodd talks about her nervousness and lack of experience with boys, specifically in regards to kissing and "speaking of tongues." Reflect on the following questions to delve deeper into the themes and emotions expressed in this excerpt:
- How does Jillian's lack of experience with boys contribute to her feelings of nervousness and uncertainty?
- What do you think the significance of the conflicting advice from Jillian's friends, Katie and Lisa, is in relation to her internal struggle?
- In what ways does Jillian's comparison of her situation to that of an undercover CIA agent add humor and exaggeration to her description of her predicament?
- How do you think Jillian's feelings and insecurities about kissing and physical intimacy reflect broader societal pressures and expectations placed on young girls in relationships?
- Consider how the metaphor of the President pleading for "the truth" adds urgency and pressure to Jillian's internal dilemma. How does this metaphor heighten the stakes of her internal struggle?
Similar quotes
“He had kissed me. Put his demon tongue in my mouth. I had kissed him back. Yet I had a boyfriend. Adam. Who I believe I’ve mentioned. More than once.Boyfriend named Adam, demon named Levi kissing me—that pretty much meant I had cheated on my boyfriend, didn’t it?Didn’t mean to do that. Yikes.I bit my fingernails and knocked on Brandon’s door and tried to rationalize my way around it. It hadn’t been a premeditated kiss. It hadn’t been initiated by me. Did that really make it cheating? Or just a sort of accidental meeting of the mouths?Shouldn’t there be like a five-second rule, anyway? Like dropping food on the floor.If you retrieve it immediately, you can still eat it. If the kiss lasted less than say, a minute, it didn’t count. Right?”
“He's kissing me, quick desperate kisses, like I'm something he needs to live; and I'm kissing him back, crazy with the ache I feel for him, trying to kiss him better, trying to fix him. I'm touching his face, feeling the roughness of his beard, the wet of his tears, feeling the tremors passing through his body, hearing his ragged breathing. And each kiss is a failure. A failed attempt to escape from all that's happening. And I only know this when he slows, drawing it out, letting me taste regret, letting things linger. He pulls away, and I'm saying "Don't, don't, don't", trying to bring him back, kissing his face. But I've lost him.”
“Max,' I said, looking up at him, 'I love the Russian heritage you guys are so willing to share, but I'm not so thrilled with the French.''What?' His brows lowered. 'We're not French.''Great. So the next time you feel the need to kiss me, keep your tongue out of my mouth!”
“His noise is getting quieter, but I can still see it there still-See how he feels the skin of my hand against his, see how he wants to take it and press it against his mouth, how he wants to breathe in the smell of me and how beautiful I look to him, how strong after all that illness, and how he wants to just lightly touch my neck, just there, and how he wants to take me in his arms and-"Oh, God," he says, looking away suddenly. "Viola, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"But I just put my hand to the back of his neck-And he says, "Viola-?"And I pull myself towards him-And I kiss him.And it feels like, finally.”
“Sky, I'm not kissing you tonight but believe me when I tell you, I've never wanted to kiss a girl more. So stop thinking I'm not attracted to you because you have no idea just how much I am. You can hold my hand, you can run your fingers through my hair, you can straddle me while I feed you spaghetti, but you are not getting kissed tonight. And probably not tomorrow, either. I need this. I need to know for sure that you're feeling every single thing that I'm feeling the moment my lips touch yours. Because I want your first kiss to be the best first kiss in the history of first kisses.”