Hopeless kingdom quotes

Relationships - Chapters 1-7: Taresai is confused as to why her own daughter doesn't seem to be open with her

"Is it normal for an almost six year old to be this closed off from her own mother?"

Identity - Chapters 1-7: Akita describes the racism she is facing in Cairo

"We are the onyx among the topaz, two colours of the same thing."

Mental health - Chapters 1-7: Taresai describes the depression she is facing while in Cairo

"Unrelenting sorrow bleeds into my every thought, every memory, every emotion."

Migration - Chapters 1-7: Taresai describes the difficulty escape from Sudan brought to her

"In Sudan I survived by running."

Identity - Chapters 8-14: Akita expresses how sudden the move from Cairo to Sydney was

"like I was plucked from my life and thrown into this one."

Suffering - Chapters 8-14: Taresai talks about the gnawing loneliness in her new life

"The loneliness that's been gnawing at my insides finally grips me and swallows all my thoughts of bliss into its abyss."

Healing - Chapters 8-14: Taresai feels joy over finding a place her ancestors couldn't

"the peace my ancestors could only dream of and only feel in death, I have finally found."

Migration - Chapters 8-14: Achol comforts Taresai in her migration difficulties

"But yes, it does get easier, Taresai. In time, things become ordinary. You adjust"

Relationships - Chapters 8-14: Santo comforts Akita

"We're going to be alright, Akita."

Mental health - Chapters 8-14: Santino expresses the homesickness he feels for Sudan

"Tsai, I am not happy. Happiness was Sudan."

Identity - Chapters 15-21: Akita expresses her disdain at leaving a place that has shaped her so significantly

"We'll be leaving the first place I ever loved. The first place I've called home."

Suffering - Chapters 15-21: Taresai is seeing her vision of the future at risk due to Santino leaving

"The foundation we worked so tirelessly to build for our children crumbling right before my very eyes."

Relationships - Chapters 15-21: Taresai is secretly dreading seeing her family again

"Our family will reunite, and I so badly want to feel good about it."

Migration - Chapters 15-21: Taresai is joyous over the quality of life in Australia

"How fortunate are we to live in a place like this."

Mental Health - Chapters 15-21: Taresai reacts with anger to Santino leaving

"I'm hysterical at this point, my body shaking with rage, hatred, primal fear."

Identity - Chapters 22-28: Akita feels a disconnect with her extended family who treat her differently

"They stare at me like I'm some kind of alien or exotic animal."

Relationships - Chapters 22-28: Taresai grapples with her childhood trauma when talking with Annette

"When Annette speaks to me I don't ever feel like she sees me."

Suffering - Chapters 22-28: Akita misses Santino

"I still feel an eternity wouldn't be enough time to say goodbye."

Healing - Chapters 22-28: Taresai is yet to heal from the pain her family caused for her

"But my wounds have yet to turn to scars; heavens, they still bleed."

Migration - Chapters 22-28: Akita struggles to settle in to her new home in Geelong

"This house doesn't even feel like home to me yet."

Mental health - Chapters 22-28: Taresai does not want her children to go through negative experiences.

"I don't want my kids to have to struggle."

Healing - Chapters 29-34: Akita uses alcohol as a coping mechanism for her pain

"I drink until there's nothing left, until my stomach is full and my head is empty, until there's nothing but blackness."

Migration - Chapters 29-34: Akita admits that her parents have had a different upbringing to her

"They were brought up in a different time, in a different place, in different ways."

Mental health - Chapters 29-34: Akita struggles to open up about mental health in her household

"We don't speak of our pain; we don't share it."

Identity - Chapters 35-40: Taresai describes how her children are not connected to their culture

"My children their kinfolk and skinfolk have severed roots, roaming this land, seeking to belong, disconnected from their tribes."

Relationships - Chapters 35-40: Akita feels confusion over her father's return

"It was like life had broken and we all pretended not to see the cracks."

Healing - Chapters 35-40: Akita feels hopeful for the future and has healed from her past

"There is hope in my kingdom, because I have seen all my wounds turn to scars."

Suffering - Chapters 29-34: Akita is upset over Taresai's mixed feelings about her career

"I thought she'd be proud of me. I thought she was proud of me."