The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by

Ann Shaffer

Kit McKenna is the four-year-old daughter of Elizabeth and Christian. She was born during the war and never met her father; he'd already died by the time she was born. Elizabeth was arrested when Kit was just over a year old, so Kit doesn't remember either of her birth parents. This, however, doesn't seem to bother Kit; she lives primarily with Amelia but spends time with all the Society members in turn, often staying at their houses overnight. When Juliet meets Kit, she finds Kit serious, attentive, and a bit intimidating. After discovering a portrait of Elizabeth as a child, Juliet realizes that Kit and Elizabeth have the exact same glare. Kit carries a box of treasures with her that Juliet feels unable to ask about, but within a few hours, Kit begins to warm to Juliet. When Amelia and Dawsey go to France to visit Remy, Kit is comfortable enough with Juliet to stay with her in Amelia's absence. During this time, she and Juliet grow even closer. Kit also comes to love Sidney, as he sends fantastic gifts. When Amelia tells Kit that Elizabeth is dead, Kit seems mostly unaffected. Unbeknownst to her, this does mean that she inherits Sir Ambrose's estate and will therefore have income and property to her name. Not long after Juliet decides that she'd like to adopt Kit, Kit finally shows Juliet the treasures in her treasure box. It contains mementos and photos from Elizabeth and Christian. After sharing it with Juliet, Kit falls asleep in Juliet's bed, and Juliet recognizes that Kit trusts her like a parent.

Kit McKenna Quotes in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society quotes below are all either spoken by Kit McKenna or refer to Kit McKenna. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Literature and Connection Theme Icon
).
Part 1: 12 Mar, 1946 Quotes

Though I had little hope of success, I knew it was my duty to warn her of the fate that awaited her. I told her she would be cast out of decent society, but she did not heed me. In fact, she laughed. I bore it. Then she told me to get out of her house.

Related Characters: Miss Adelaide Addison (speaker), Juliet Ashton, Elizabeth McKenna, Kit McKenna, Captain Christian Hellman
Page Number: 82
Explanation and Analysis:

The principal work of the baby's maintenance was undertaken by Amelia Maugery, with other Society members taking her out—like a library book—for several weeks at a time.

They all dandled the baby, and now that the child can walk, she goes everywhere with one or another of them—holding hands or riding on their shoulders. Such are their standards!

Related Characters: Miss Adelaide Addison (speaker), Juliet Ashton, Elizabeth McKenna, Mrs. Amelia Maugery, Kit McKenna
Page Number: 83
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 1: 22 Apr, 1946 Quotes

There was an old canvas bathing shoe left lying right in the middle of the path. Eli walked around it, staring. Finally, he said, "That shoe is all alone, Grandpa." I answered that yes it was. He looked at it some more, and then we walked on by. After a bit, he said, "Grandpa, that's something I never am." I asked him, "What's that?" And he said, "Lonesome in my spirits."

Related Characters: Eben Ramsey (speaker), Eli (speaker), Juliet Ashton, Kit McKenna, Jane
Page Number: 124
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 1: 13 May, 1946 Quotes

I sometimes think that we are morally obliged to begin a search for Kit's German relations, but I cannot bring myself to do it. Christian was a rare soul, and he detested what his country was doing, but the same cannot be true for many Germans...And how could we send our Kit away to a foreign—and destroyed—land, even if her relations could be found? We are the only family she's ever known.

Related Characters: Mrs. Amelia Maugery (speaker), Juliet Ashton, Kit McKenna, Captain Christian Hellman
Page Number: 137-38
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2: 6 Jun, 1946 Quotes

I knew that all children were gruesome, but I don't know whether I'm supposed to encourage them in it. I'm afraid to ask Sophie if Dead Bride is too morbid a game for a four-year-old. If she says yes, we'll have to stop playing, and I don't want to stop. I love Dead Bride.

Related Characters: Juliet Ashton (speaker), Sidney Stark, Kit McKenna, Sophie Strachan
Page Number: 175
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2: 12 Jun, 1946 Quotes

I also know that she cherished you as her family, and she felt gratitude and peace that her daughter, Kit, was in your care. Therefore, I write so you and the child will know of her and the strength she showed to us in the camp.

Related Characters: Remy Giraud (speaker), Elizabeth McKenna, Isola Pribby, Kit McKenna, Eben Ramsey
Page Number: 178
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2: 17 Jul, 1946 Quotes

Maybe every mother looks at her baby that way—with that intense focus—but Elizabeth put it on paper. There was one shaky drawing of a wizened little Kit, made the day after she was born, according to Amelia.

Related Characters: Juliet Ashton (speaker), Elizabeth McKenna, Sidney Stark, Mrs. Amelia Maugery, Kit McKenna
Page Number: 203
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2: 19 Jul, 1946 Quotes

Why, there'd be soldiers riding guard in the back of potato lorries going to the army's mess hall—children would follow them, hoping potatoes would fall off into the street. Soldiers would look straight ahead, grim-like, and then flick potatoes off the pile—on purpose.

Related Characters: Captain Christian Hellman (speaker), Sam Withers (speaker), Juliet Ashton, Elizabeth McKenna, Sidney Stark, Kit McKenna
Page Number: 208
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2: 7 Sep, 1946 Quotes

She was showing me her treasures, Sophie—her eyes did not leave my face once. We were both so solemn, and I, for once, didn't start crying; I just held out my arms. She climbed right into them, and under the covers with me—and went sound asleep. Not me! I couldn't. I was too happy planning the rest of our lives.

Related Characters: Juliet Ashton (speaker), Elizabeth McKenna, Kit McKenna, Sophie Strachan, Captain Christian Hellman
Page Number: 259
Explanation and Analysis:
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Kit McKenna Quotes in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society quotes below are all either spoken by Kit McKenna or refer to Kit McKenna. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Literature and Connection Theme Icon
).
Part 1: 12 Mar, 1946 Quotes

Though I had little hope of success, I knew it was my duty to warn her of the fate that awaited her. I told her she would be cast out of decent society, but she did not heed me. In fact, she laughed. I bore it. Then she told me to get out of her house.

Related Characters: Miss Adelaide Addison (speaker), Juliet Ashton, Elizabeth McKenna, Kit McKenna, Captain Christian Hellman
Page Number: 82
Explanation and Analysis:

The principal work of the baby's maintenance was undertaken by Amelia Maugery, with other Society members taking her out—like a library book—for several weeks at a time.

They all dandled the baby, and now that the child can walk, she goes everywhere with one or another of them—holding hands or riding on their shoulders. Such are their standards!

Related Characters: Miss Adelaide Addison (speaker), Juliet Ashton, Elizabeth McKenna, Mrs. Amelia Maugery, Kit McKenna
Page Number: 83
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 1: 22 Apr, 1946 Quotes

There was an old canvas bathing shoe left lying right in the middle of the path. Eli walked around it, staring. Finally, he said, "That shoe is all alone, Grandpa." I answered that yes it was. He looked at it some more, and then we walked on by. After a bit, he said, "Grandpa, that's something I never am." I asked him, "What's that?" And he said, "Lonesome in my spirits."

Related Characters: Eben Ramsey (speaker), Eli (speaker), Juliet Ashton, Kit McKenna, Jane
Page Number: 124
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 1: 13 May, 1946 Quotes

I sometimes think that we are morally obliged to begin a search for Kit's German relations, but I cannot bring myself to do it. Christian was a rare soul, and he detested what his country was doing, but the same cannot be true for many Germans...And how could we send our Kit away to a foreign—and destroyed—land, even if her relations could be found? We are the only family she's ever known.

Related Characters: Mrs. Amelia Maugery (speaker), Juliet Ashton, Kit McKenna, Captain Christian Hellman
Page Number: 137-38
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2: 6 Jun, 1946 Quotes

I knew that all children were gruesome, but I don't know whether I'm supposed to encourage them in it. I'm afraid to ask Sophie if Dead Bride is too morbid a game for a four-year-old. If she says yes, we'll have to stop playing, and I don't want to stop. I love Dead Bride.

Related Characters: Juliet Ashton (speaker), Sidney Stark, Kit McKenna, Sophie Strachan
Page Number: 175
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2: 12 Jun, 1946 Quotes

I also know that she cherished you as her family, and she felt gratitude and peace that her daughter, Kit, was in your care. Therefore, I write so you and the child will know of her and the strength she showed to us in the camp.

Related Characters: Remy Giraud (speaker), Elizabeth McKenna, Isola Pribby, Kit McKenna, Eben Ramsey
Page Number: 178
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2: 17 Jul, 1946 Quotes

Maybe every mother looks at her baby that way—with that intense focus—but Elizabeth put it on paper. There was one shaky drawing of a wizened little Kit, made the day after she was born, according to Amelia.

Related Characters: Juliet Ashton (speaker), Elizabeth McKenna, Sidney Stark, Mrs. Amelia Maugery, Kit McKenna
Page Number: 203
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2: 19 Jul, 1946 Quotes

Why, there'd be soldiers riding guard in the back of potato lorries going to the army's mess hall—children would follow them, hoping potatoes would fall off into the street. Soldiers would look straight ahead, grim-like, and then flick potatoes off the pile—on purpose.

Related Characters: Captain Christian Hellman (speaker), Sam Withers (speaker), Juliet Ashton, Elizabeth McKenna, Sidney Stark, Kit McKenna
Page Number: 208
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2: 7 Sep, 1946 Quotes

She was showing me her treasures, Sophie—her eyes did not leave my face once. We were both so solemn, and I, for once, didn't start crying; I just held out my arms. She climbed right into them, and under the covers with me—and went sound asleep. Not me! I couldn't. I was too happy planning the rest of our lives.

Related Characters: Juliet Ashton (speaker), Elizabeth McKenna, Kit McKenna, Sophie Strachan, Captain Christian Hellman
Page Number: 259
Explanation and Analysis: