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Albert
Shay is the class bully. She's wealthy and is always surrounded by Jessica and a number of other girls whom Ally just refers to as Shay's followers. All of these girls wear friendship bracelets, which Ally is jealous of and sees as proof that they all care about each other. Because of Ally's jealousy in this regard, Shay is able to draw Ally into her bullying on occasion. Shay's preferred angle for her bullying is to tear down her classmates for their financial status, which in most cases seems to be much lower than her own. She also attacks classmates for being different or "freaks." After Mr. Daniels takes away Shay's recess for bullying Oliver, Shay becomes very sneaky about her bullying. This makes it harder for teachers to stop, though by that point, Mr. Daniels has already given his other students tools that empower them to stand up to Shay themselves. Eventually, Ally learns that Shay actually sells the friendship bracelets to her friends, which shows Ally that Shay doesn't actually have friends—she just scares others into following her. After this, Shay's power gradually disappears. Though she tries to bully her classmates into first not running against her for class president and then into voting for her, Ally wins the election. After Shay's loss, Ally learns that Shay is a bully because Shay's mom is also cruel and obsessed with being the best. In the weeks that follow, Jessica and the rest of Shay's followers begin to abandon her and even leave their friendship bracelets on Shay's desk. Though Ally tries to approach Shay and reach out kindly, Shay rejects the attempt and chooses to continue acting meanly.
Shay Quotes in Fish in a Tree
The Fish in a Tree quotes below are all either spoken by Shay or refer to Shay. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 11
Quotes
Besides that, Shay, Jessica, and some other girls all have these woven friendship bracelets. And I have never had the kind of friends who have matching bracelets, but I have always wanted them. It's like the bracelet tells the world that the person wearing it has someone who cares about them.
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I'm not perfect, but at least I'm not mean.
And then my heart sinks, because I realize that I just was.
I guess I did it because I was lonely. Now I know that there are worse things than being lonely.
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Chapter 23
Quotes
Even when I do something right, I feel like I've done something wrong. If I were a coin, I'd be a wooden nickel.
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Chapter 24
Quotes
“I laugh. “Uh, no, thanks. I'd rather wear handcuffs.”
I can't believe Shay charges her friends for something that's supposed to stand for loyalty and friendship. And I can't believe they paid.
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Chapter 37
Quotes
Shay sounds like someone completely different. The Shay I know, always so quick to pick a fight, now has a voice that sounds like a kindergartener.
“Sorry, Mama.” She brushes a tear from her cheek.
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Chapter 48
Quotes
And looking around the room, I remember thinking that my reading differences were like dragging a concrete block around every day, and how I felt sorry for myself. Now I realize that everyone has their own blocks to drag around. And they all feel heavy.
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Shay Quotes in Fish in a Tree
The Fish in a Tree quotes below are all either spoken by Shay or refer to Shay. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 11
Quotes
Besides that, Shay, Jessica, and some other girls all have these woven friendship bracelets. And I have never had the kind of friends who have matching bracelets, but I have always wanted them. It's like the bracelet tells the world that the person wearing it has someone who cares about them.
Related Characters:
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Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
I'm not perfect, but at least I'm not mean.
And then my heart sinks, because I realize that I just was.
I guess I did it because I was lonely. Now I know that there are worse things than being lonely.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23
Quotes
Even when I do something right, I feel like I've done something wrong. If I were a coin, I'd be a wooden nickel.
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Chapter 24
Quotes
“I laugh. “Uh, no, thanks. I'd rather wear handcuffs.”
I can't believe Shay charges her friends for something that's supposed to stand for loyalty and friendship. And I can't believe they paid.
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Chapter 37
Quotes
Shay sounds like someone completely different. The Shay I know, always so quick to pick a fight, now has a voice that sounds like a kindergartener.
“Sorry, Mama.” She brushes a tear from her cheek.
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Chapter 48
Quotes
And looking around the room, I remember thinking that my reading differences were like dragging a concrete block around every day, and how I felt sorry for myself. Now I realize that everyone has their own blocks to drag around. And they all feel heavy.
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