Content Warning: This section of the guide describes bullying, anti-fat bias, suicide, and stigmatizing language about mental health.

“The eighth graders who sit at the Popular Table are different. They’re practically celebrities. If we had tabloid magazines in middle school, the Popular Table kids would be in all the pictures. They’re just like us! They hand in homework! They whisper secrets!”

The capitalization turns the popular table into a proper noun, highlighting its stature. The table symbolizes stardom. To be a “celebrity,” a person must sit at the table. At the same time, the quote demystifies the status of popularity/celebrity. They, too, are human—“just like us.” This quote highlights the theme of Demystifying Popularity.

“I might as well have fallen through a trapdoor. Or never existed at all.”

When Truly leaves with Natasha, Hazel feels abandoned, and she uses figurative language to highlight the intensity of her loss. The quote also reveals that Hazel isn’t jealous of Truly. She doesn’t want to be popular: She wants to stay best friends with Truly.

“??? ugh so bored nothing to do.”

Vail conveys the story in multiple ways. Aside from prose, the novel uses text messages, letters, social media posts, and lists. Clay’s list provides insight into his personality. He’s introspective and aware that he doesn’t work as hard as he could. The diction and syntax mimic how a young person might compose a list. The three question marks and lack of capital letters indicate that they aren’t always concerned with proper grammar.