Book BFF: Clara Gardner

Book BFF was created by Larks Andrea, Paula, and Jen to showcase some of our favorite ladies & was originally inspired by Book Boyfriend. We'd love it if you'd join us featuring your favorite Book BFFs and leaving links so we can check out your posts. We will be alternating between Book Boyfriends and Book BFFs on Thursdays. 

This week my Book BFF is Clara Gardner from Cynthia Hand's
Unearthly Trilogy


Clara's Appearance:

I'm not bad looking, I know.  Angel-bloods are a fairly attractive bunch.  I have good skin and my lips are naturally rosy so I never wear anything but gloss.  I have very nice knees, or so I've been told.  But I'm too tall and too skinny, and not in the willowy supermodel sort of way but in a stork-like, all-arms-and-legs sort of way.  ~ p. 15, Clara describing herself in Unearthly (ebook).

It's a different girl this year, sitting in the silver Prius in the parking lot of Jackson Hole High School on her first day of class.  First off, this girl's a blonde:  long, wavy gold hair with subtle hints of red.  She wears her hair in a tight ponytail at the base of her neck, and on top of that, she's crammed a gray fedora, which she hopes will come off as cool and vintage and will take some of the attention away from her hair.  She looks sun-kissed -- not tan exactly, but with a very definite glow.  But it's not the hair or the skin that I don't quite recognize as my own when I peer into the rearview mirror.  It's the eyes.  In those large blue-gray eyes is a brand-new knowledge of good and evil.  I look older.  I hope that's true.  ~ p. 5, Clara reflecting on her noticeably angelic appearance, of which she is trying to be a little less conspicuous about upon starting her senior year at high school in Hallowed.



Facts About Clara (Spoilery):

~ Clara learned she was an angel-blood from her mother, also an angel-blood, when she was fourteen.

~ Clara, and her younger brother Jeffrey, originally believed they were Quartarius angel-bloods -- meaning their mother was a Dimidius (half angel-blood) and their father was human, making them one-quarter angel-blood.

~ Clara's wings are a beautiful white...indicating she is on the side of good.

~ Clara was three when their father left them.

~ Clara's visions caused her family to pick up their lives and move from California to Wyoming, much to her brother's chagrin.

~ As Clara's angelic side matures, her hair becomes noticeably other-worldly and in an attempt to hide it until she can control her 'glory', she has to dye her hair bright orange, as it is the only colour that will effectively hide the brightness.

~ She quickly makes friends with Wendy and Angela, as well meeting the boy in her visions, Christian Prescott, on her first day at her new high school in Wyoming.

~ It is because of Clara's bad dye-job that Tucker Avery, at first, teases her relentlessly and gives her the nickname Carrots. 

~ Again, because of her hair, Clara was also nick-named 'Hot Bozo' by some of Christian's friends.

~ Clara can naturally speak any language on earth.

~ She's naturally talented in many sports, including skiing as she finds out in Unearthly, but she also finds it challenging to fly...and fish.

~ Clara loves The Vampire Academy books.

~ Later in the books, we learn that Clara is more than a Quartarius, but a rare Triplare (three-quarters angel-blood, because we learn the true nature of her father.

~ Clara has a special gift among angel-bloods, the ability to be deeply empathetic.

Quotes From/About Clara (all quotes from Goodreads):
 

  “Because I love you.' There. I said it. I can't believe I actually said it. People cast around those words so carelessly. I always cringe whenever I hear kids say it while making out in the hall at school. I love you, babe. I love you, too. Here they're all of sixteen years old and convinced that they've found true love. I always thought I'd have more sense than that, a little more perspective. But here I am, saying it and meaning it.” ~ Unearthly

~

“Coward, says the nagging voice inside my head. You should talk to him. Find out what he has to say.
What if he says we belong together?
Well, then you'll have to deal with that. But at least you won't be running away.
I think it's more of a brisk walk.
Whatever.
I'm having an argument with myself. And I'm losing. So not a good sign.” ~ Hallowed

~

“I’ve learned that a storm isn’t always just bad weather, and a fire can be the start of something. I’ve found out that there are a lot more shades of gray in this world than I ever knew about. I’ve learned that sometimes, when you´re afraid but you keep on moving forward, that’s the biggest kind of courage there is. And finally, I’ve learned that life isn’t really about failure and success. It’s about being present, in the moment when big things happen, when everything changes, including myself.” ~ Hallowed

~

“We think of happiness as something we can take. But usually it comes from being content with what we have, and accepting ourselves.”  ~ Boundless

~

“It wasn't you're fault," I whisper. And then out of self-protection more than anything else, I bring the glory. I don't warn him or anything. I don't damp it down. I bring it. The room fills with light.
"This is what I am," I say, my hair ablaze around my head.
He squints at me. his jaw juts out a little in pure stubbornness. He stands his ground
"I know," he says.
I take a step towards him, close the space between us, put my glowing hand against his cheek. He starts to tremble. "This is what I am," I say again and my wings are out now.
His knees wobble, but he fights it. He puts his hand at my waist, turns me, pulls me closer, which surprises me.
"I can accept that," he whispers, and holds his breath, and leans in to kiss me.
His lips brush mine for an instant, and an emotion like victory tears through him, but he pulls away and glances at the front door. Groans.
Christian is standing in the doorway. ~ Boundless

Why Is Clara My Book BFF:

Clara is smart, has an awesome sense of humour and passionate about her beliefs.  She is way more selfless more than she was selfish (like any normal person is selfish)...making her an honest person in my eyes.  She has the strength to go against the grain when she knows it is the right thing to do and swallows her fears when it really counts.  Clara sometimes gives in to feelings guilt and weakness when she realizes she cannot save everyone despite her best intentions to try but that's when she knows she needs to rely on those around her that love her.  She literally went to hell and back to save a friend and reunite a family.  Who would not want to have a friend like that in their corner?!

Who Do I Picture As Clara:

When a book has a cover model, in most cases, I tend to picture that person as the character in my head.  Not that I don't think this trilogy's cover model is pretty, but I think Clara's inner beauty and personality makes me think of someone else..so in that light, I think Emma Roberts comes closest to my image of Clara in my mind.