My Louisiana Sky

“I loved Saitter. I loved the longleaf pines that grew thick around us like a fort. I loved the smell of honeysuckle after a hard rain and the way a swim in Saitter Creek cooled my skin. But I didn’t know what was wrong about taking a trip away from God’s country now and then. Even God let his angels fly away sometimes.”

This quote references the motif of the natural world that plays such a large part in the story. Here, the author describes Saitter as protective. Holt compares it to a “fort” and references the ways in which it cares for its inhabitants.

“Grandpa Parker knew how to breathe the rhythm of the earth.”

This quote touches on the importance of the natural world; Lonnie learned from his father how to stay connected to the earth and read its signs. The quote also underscores that Lonnie’s talents in predicting the weather are due to a partnership and a connection between himself and the natural world, rather than a one-way relationship.

“I was feeling torn in two giant pieces. Part of me wished I was inside the church with Abby Lynn, helping her dry off those golden curls, and part of me wished real bad that I had stayed in that game and struck out Bobby Dean.”

This quote references the ideas of gender and belonging that are so prominent in the novel and in Tiger’s life. Tiger’s words emphasize the importance of choice, and the visual of being “torn” speaks to the difficulty of Tiger’s decisions. The image also symbolizes the character’s identity conflict; she wants to fit in (be with Abby Lynn), but she also wants to be herself (play baseball).

“As Momma danced and sang, I remembered how we had played dolls together when I was younger, pretending we lived in fairyland. We wore crocheted doilies on our heads for hats, drank magic tea from honeysuckles, and called the dead pine needles gold. Now I felt like I was growing up past her.”

One of the central ideas of the story is that of “growing up.” In some ways, it calls into question what it really means to “grow up,” and Tiger’s journey is made all the more complex because she “grows up,” intellectually, more than her mother ever could.

“They formed a circle, leaving me on the outside as Abby Lynn flipped through a Sears Roebuck catalog. They all wore matching saddle oxfords and barrettes in their bobbed hair. I wondered what I might look like with saddle oxfords on my feet and a bobbed hairdo.”

Here, Tiger is overtly ostracized by the other girls in her school. The image of a circle, with Tiger literally on the outside, reflects how she has felt her whole life. Additionally, it calls attention to Tiger’s self-perceived shortcomings; she doesn’t feel as pretty or mature as the other girls, and she doesn’t even have the money to wear their unofficial “uniform.”

“When my gaze reached his, he looked down at the floor. Then he lifted his head and smiled at me.”

This quote illustrates some of the social structure and implications at play within Tiger’s school. Her best friend, Jesse Wade, feels the pressure to ignore Tiger and her mother after they caused a scene at the school gymnasium. Ultimately, however, he goes against the status quo and treats her like a friend and a human being.

“Life started to change all around me after that day at the gym. Sometimes I looked at Momma and Daddy and my face heated up thinking about what they might do next to embarrass me.”

This quote underscores the importance of the event at the school gymnasium with the traveling library. It marks a turning point of sorts in this novel; Tiger is more embarrassed by her parents than ever and begins to resent them. Her feelings after this run-in contribute to her wish to leave Saitter behind, and she must eventually overcome them.

“People are afraid of what’s different. That don’t mean different is bad. Just means different is different.”

Granny’s wisdom is important both to Tiger’s development and to the story as a whole. This quote introduces an idea that will remain important throughout the rest of the story: that judgment has roots in fear, not in the difference itself. The way that Holt uses dialect in this quote also lends dimension to Granny’s character and the setting.

“Granny said, ‘Trees bud out at different times in the spring.’ But my blossoming was taking a few seasons. Seemed like the things I didn’t want to change did, and the things I did, didn’t.”

Granny delivers yet more wisdom for Tiger to consider. The tree and flower imagery reinforces Tiger’s connection to the natural world. Tiger’s observation that things change in ways she doesn’t want could also reflect onto many other situations in the novel; Granny’s death, Jesse Wade’s kiss, and the stranger whistling at her in Aunt Dorie Kay’s pool.

“One of Granny’s biggest virtues was her honesty. I learned early in life not to ask a question unless I was prepared for the truth. Once I asked her if I was pretty. ‘No, Tiger, You’re not. But you’re smart and that’s more important.’ Her words stung. I remembered thinking I’d rather be pretty.”

This quote references one of the common motifs of the story, that of physical beauty. Again, it features Granny’s wisdom and reflects a change that Tiger will undergo over the course of the novel. Though at this point she would rather be pretty than smart, as she grows, Tiger realizes that neither quality is all-important and that neither carry moral value.

“Your momma may have a simple mind, Tiger, but her love is simple too. It flows from her like a quick, easy river.”

Once again, Granny’s wisdom plays an important role in the story. This quote returns to the importance of love, and Tiger will return to Granny’s words later in the story when she realizes just how much she and her mother love each other. The remark echoes Granny’s earlier words about pretty versus smart, and Tiger’s eventual discovery that neither quality defines a person.

“‘People handle death in different ways. Sometimes they act strange on the outside, but inside it’s the same for everyone. Their hearts are breaking.’ Maybe the way Aunt Dorie Kay acted was her way of coping with a broken heart.”

Here, again, Granny’s wisdom helps Tiger through a difficult situation. This quote also shows that Tiger is beginning to understand that difference is neither good nor bad and that everyone has more in common with each other than how it might appear at first. Granny’s words also underscore the theme of inner difference versus outer difference.

“As she held me snugly, the smell of her shampoo reminded me of when she used to sing me a song she had made up. ‘Momma’s got a little baby. Momma’s got a little child. Momma’s got a little Tiger, who makes her momma smile.’ I had forgotten that song and those rocking chair days. Until now.”

Just before Tiger leaves for Baton Rouge, she remembers experiencing the enveloping love of her mother when she was a child. This is something that Tiger struggles with throughout the novel: Tiger doesn’t feel that her mother loves her or, if she does, that she demonstrates her love properly.

“You can reinvent yourself in Baton Rouge, Tiger. That’s what I did […] When I moved here nine years ago, I practiced voice patterns of women on radio commercials, studied fashion magazines for the latest styles, and put myself through secretarial school […] Sometimes I shudder to think about what I used to look like.”

This quote from Aunt Dorie Kay references the idea of changing oneself. In Aunt Dorie Kay’s case, these changes were drastic and done explicitly to “fit in” and be successful. Here, she is providing Tiger with an example of a powerful, if vain and self-judgmental, woman.

“I had never seen a picture of Momma as a child. It seemed so odd to stare into her face. Something was different about her in that picture. Maybe the way she had her arm around Aunt Dorie Kay—so protective-like. The way I wished she would protect me.”

This quote returns to the idea that Tiger does not feel protected by her mother; she often feels that she is the one doing the protecting. However, she is able to identify her feelings here and learns about her mother shortly thereafter. The photo also shows Corrina as a child, symbolizing the persisting childlike state of her mind after the disabling accident.

“She broke her arm, but her head took the worst hit. It was like her mind wouldn’t go past that day. Doctors said she’d probably always be like a six-year-old. I think Ma never forgave herself for leaving that ladder out, or me for climbing up the tree.”

Tiger learns how her mother got her disability. This quote reveals deep vulnerability on Aunt Dorie Kay’s part; she is telling Tiger something that isn’t discussed in the family, she refers to Granny as “Ma,” and she begins to admit the complicated relationship that she and Granny had.

“I wanted so much to show Ma I loved her, but she never accepted me living away from Saitter. I think Granny expected me to stay in Saitter to take care of Corrina. After she realized I had left for good, she allowed your daddy to marry Corrina. I’m sure she was convinced I thought Saitter wasn’t good enough for me. But I just wanted more from life […] Is that so wrong?”

Tiger learns more about Granny and Aunt Dorie Kay’s complicated relationship. Aunt Dorie Kay continues to exemplify a woman who is both strong and vulnerable at the same time. The fact that she refers to Granny as both “Granny” and “Ma” also speaks to the fact that the two have a troubled, multifaceted relationship.

“Just the sight of the two of them together like that made something powerful fill up in me. For a moment I stood there watching them and smelling the sweet air and listening to the frogs croak while the radio softly played in the background.”

This quote returns to the importance of love as well as the importance of the natural world. Witnessing this moment of tenderness between her parents against the backdrop of the beauty of Saitter, Tiger feels more connected to the place that she was thinking about leaving.

“Daddy and I rushed to the living room window. Hundreds of birds—cardinals, blue jays, bluebirds, sparrows, and robins—had settled in the trees. The birds chirped and tweeted, calling out like they were trying to tell us something important.”

Again, this quote brings the focus back to the natural world and Lonnie’s connection to it. Here, the natural world is shown to be directly helpful to those who have the skill and willingness to listen; Holt writes that the birds are trying to tell them something important. It is unclear whether the author is personifying the birds or making the statement in earnest.

“Her voice shook a bit, but I could tell she meant what she said. Mr. Thompson sometimes joked about Mrs. Thompson’s Cajun temper, but now I wondered if he’d been serious.”

Tiger sees someone outside of her immediate family standing up for her father. This is incredibly meaningful; she knows her parents are good, capable people despite what neighbors think. This quote also provides another example of a strong woman; Mrs. Thompson steps outside of her comfort zone to run the nursery in an emergency when her husband is not there.

“I kept running, Momma’s voice drumming in my ears—I gotta go get my baby. Momma had gone after me. Like Miss Astor searching for Pansy. Like Mrs. Thompson keeping Jesse Wade safe at home. Momma had wanted to protect me.”

Tiger finally realizes just how much she and her mother love each other. Even though her mother is different from other mothers, she still tries to protect and care for Tiger as best she is able. Again, Tiger realizes that “different” does not mean “bad.”

“We just kept running and when we met, we clung to each other as tight and sturdy as those pines. And through the howling of that old wind, I heard Granny’s voice whisper to me: Your momma’s love is simple. It flows from her like a quick, easy river. And for the first time in a long time, I felt safe in my momma’s arms.”

This quote solidifies the idea in the previous quote; Tiger finally realizes that despite her differences, her mother loves her in her own way that is neither better nor worse than the other mothers. Holt ties this idea back into the natural world with imagery, comparing Tiger and her mother to the pine trees.

“A warmth swept over me—mightier than any devil’s wind could blow. And despite all the pulled-up trees and broken branches on the ground, I felt my head and my heart clear. I was home, and it was exactly where I wanted to be.”

Tiger fully realizes her ties to and love for her parents and her hometown. This feeling of safety and belonging connects to the idea of love and the natural world through the author’s diction.