I can't face the idea of riding home on a busful of sweaty, smiling teeth sucking up my oxygen

I can't face the idea of riding home on a busful of sweaty, smiling teeth sucking up my oxygen

Laurie Halse Anderson is a renowned author known for her powerful and thought-provoking young adult novels. One of her most famous works is "Speak," which tackles the difficult subject of sexual assault and its aftermath. Anderson's writing is raw, honest, and unflinching, often delving into the darker aspects of human nature and society.

The quote "I can't face the idea of riding home on a busful of sweaty, smiling teeth sucking up my oxygen" perfectly captures the sense of discomfort and unease that Anderson's characters often experience. In her novels, the protagonists frequently find themselves in situations where they feel suffocated by the expectations and judgments of those around them. They struggle to navigate the complexities of adolescence and the harsh realities of the world they inhabit.

The image of a busful of sweaty, smiling teeth is a vivid and unsettling one. It evokes a sense of claustrophobia and invasion, as if the protagonist is surrounded by a sea of insincere smiles and false cheer. The idea of having one's oxygen sucked up by these smiling teeth suggests a feeling of suffocation and powerlessness, as if the protagonist is being overwhelmed by the superficiality and phoniness of the world around them.