A Royal Conundrum

Content Warning: This section of the guide features depictions of bullying.

“Weird things had a tendency of happening to Olive Cobin Zang, but this morning was weirder than most.”

The novel’s opening line immediately establishes Olive Corbin Zang as someone who is accustomed to unusual experiences, but it also signals that today’s events will surpass even her expectations. This quote illustrates that Olive does not see herself as being entirely in control of her own life. This idea reinforces her status as an outsider who must navigate unpredictable situations. By stating that “this morning was weirder than most,” the novel implies that all of Olive’s days are “weird” to some extent. This portrayal creates a sense of intrigue and foreshadows a significant turning point in Olive’s journey.

“Invisibility had its benefits, she was quick to remind herself. Say assassins were chasing you, or a teacher asked about cell homeostasis and you hadn’t done your homework—if they couldn’t see you, you were safe from embarrassment or death, which often felt like the same thing.”

In this passage, Olive’s reflections on her desire to remain unnoticed highlight The Search for Identity and Belonging that occupies her thoughts. Her comparison of embarrassment to death also exaggerates her anxiety in a humorous way, and it is clear that her sense of social invisibility isolates her and makes her doubt her place in any given group. While she tries to see invisibility as a defense mechanism, the underlying irony is that true belonging requires being seen and valued.