Social Isolation: Catherine struggles to make friends due to her selective mutism and social anxiety. Her peers don't understand her challenges, which leaves her feeling isolated and frustrated.
Communication Barrier: Catherine's selective mutism prevents her from verbally expressing her thoughts and feelings easily. This communication barrier makes it difficult for her to interact with others and to be understood, leading to frustration.
Unfulfilled Desires: Catherine deeply desires to be an author and writer, but she faces internal blocks. The expectations and responsibilities she feels can be burdensome, contributing to her frustration.
Overwhelm: Navigating middle school brings on various changes and challenges, such as dealing with mean behavior from new classmates. These additional pressures add to Catherine's overall frustration.
Comparison to Daisy: Catherine compares herself to Daisy, who was her outgoing and expressive former classmate. Seeing Daisy's apparent natural social abilities can contribute to Catherine's sense of frustration about her difficulties.
It's important to note that Catherine's frustration is not constant, and her emotions fluctuate throughout the chapter. However, understanding the sources of her frustration helps build empathy for her character and her journey through the story.