Punk 57

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying, cursing, antigay bias, substance use, sexual content, sexual harassment, and death.

“Ryen likes to keep our friendship status quo. It works, after all. Why risk losing it by changing it?

And she’s right, I guess. What if I hear her voice and her letters become less special? I get to imagine her personality through her words. That would change if I heard her tone.

But what if I hear her voice and I like it? What if her laughter in my ear or her breathing into the phone haunts me as much as her words, and I want more?”

Misha muses about the boundaries of his relationship with his long-term pen pal, Ryen. This quote explains why Misha and Ryen have limited their relationship strictly to pen pals and illustrates the value Misha places on Ryen and her words. Misha utilizes a series of rhetorical questions, which express his inner conflict and highlight his uncertainty and desire. This quote also heavily foreshadows the events of the novel, as Misha accurately predicts some of the conflicts created when he and Ryen begin to associate in person.

“Right now, Misha Lare, with all his imperfections, is perfect in my head. He listens, pumps me up, takes the pressure off, and has no expectations of me. He tells the truth, and he’s the one place I never have to hide.

How many people have someone like that?

And as much as I want answers, I can’t just give that up yet. We’ve been writing for seven years. This is a part of me, and I’m not sure what I would do without it. If I search him out, everything will change.”

Ryen, who hasn’t heard back from Misha in months, contemplates what her relationship with Misha means to her and justifies why she hasn’t sought him out despite the absence. Ryen’s feelings for Misha and explanation for not seeking him out parallel Misha’s feelings and explanation from the first chapter. Both characters worry about changing the ideal relationship they’ve built through letters.

“It’s the only class I have every day that I enjoy, but I let my friends think I hate it. Art, band, theater…they’re all targets for ridicule, and I don’t want to hear it from them.”

Ryen explains that, although she enjoys art class, she wouldn’t let her friends know that because she worries about their judgment. This quote characterizes Ryen’s friends as people with whom she doesn’t feel comfortable being herself with and characterizes Ryen as someone who suppresses her true self for the acceptance of others. This quote relates to the theme of