Avi

“Like Indian corn in August, the "what ifs" in my life were growing fast. Too fast.”

“Yes, it is hard to discover a truth. But it is much harder to be unable to do anything about it. It's as if you know for certain a building will collapse and not one soul―not even those within―will listen to your warning. Hearing truth makes many deaf.”

“Know her? Of course I know her. Everyone knows Poppy. She's famous.”

“A mouse has to do what a mouse has to do”

“People are freer in America. But there are more tears.”

“A green summer leafEmbraced by the frozen iceKeeps memories warm”

“All I can think is that when you torment a person...the soul dies. When the soul dies, I suppose mercy dies, too.”

“There is a limit to how much a seer wishes to see.”

“Not for nothing are they called deadlines. By the time you reach the final line, sir, you are indeed dead.”

“Then the silence came back, that awful silence that seemed to just take over.In that silence I kept hearing what I had said--heard it repeating itself over and over again like a stuck record. I wanted it to stop. I didn't want to say things like that anymore. I was sick of that kind of lying. I wished I could say something real.But the silence was too big.”

“Now give me a kiss, say you love me and off you go.""Sure, Aunt Lu," I said, and I gave her the kiss she wanted. Then I ran out and caught my bus. I didn't say I loved her. I guess I did. But asking someone to say they love you--and she always asked--is like buying yourself a birthday present. It's more than likely exactly what you want. But it must make you feel awfully sad to get it.”

“Something Zachariah told me filled my mind and excited my heart: "A Sailor," he said, "chooses the wind that takes the ship from safe port......but winds have a mind of their home.”

“A sailor may choose the wind to ride out of seaport, but the wind has a mind of it's own.”

“She can be fierce, but for all of that she's actually kindness itself.”

“In another corner Nathaniel murmured to Maura, "You must know, Miss O'Connell, I . . . I loved you even before I saw you. It was your father's way of talking."Maura shook her head. "You mustn't say that. It's not my dear da's words that should do the wooing," she said gently. "I'd rather be cared for . . . for what I am myself."Nathaniel nodded. "I'll not say more. But I will tell you what I think I'm going to do."And what is thatI'm going to California to search for gold."And do you think, Nathaniel Brewster, you'll find it?"I do. But it won't be as fine as what's here," Nathaniel said with a shy smile. "Maura O'Connell . . . will . . . will you . . . wait for me to come back?"Maura was silent.Will you?"You're a fine young man, Mr. Brewster. I can only say I'll not forget you.”

“Laurence, not sure what to do, remained standing below the steps."And who is this?" Mrs Hamlyn asked.Patrick looked back. "His name is . . . Laurence, mistress."Mrs Hamlyn scrutinized the boy before her. "Where does he come from?" she said, finding him scrawny and dirty."He came to America on the same ship we did."Mrs Hamlyn pursed her lips. "He's very ragged. Is he from Ireland too?""England.""But a friend of yours?"Laurence and Patrick looked at each other."Is he?" Mrs Hamlyn asked again.Patrick said, "He saved my life, twice.""Did he? Then he must be a good friend indeed.”

“I took a deep breath. 'For you I've got something better than love.'What's that?'I...trust you.'Why?'You'll never hurt me.'Thank you.'But...'But, what?'I said, 'That means I'll hurt you.'Why?' 'Cause, like I said, you'll never hurt me back.”

“The cure for unhappiness...It's this: What a person needs is always more than they say.”

“The boys, hearing this declaration, allowed not the slightest hint that they had ever heard anything like it before.”

“There are those who'd rob a blind man of his eyelashes if they could.”

“I JUST FINISHED READING WOLF RIDER SUCH A GOOD BOOK...YOU HAVE TO TO READ IT!!!!”

“I kept asking myself if I felt different, if I was different. The answer was always yes. I was no longer nothing… How odd, I thought; it had taken my mother’s death, Father Quinel’s murder, and the desire of others to kill me to claim a life of my own.”

“It all depends on you. If you want it to be different,it will be different. Don't look at the world with your eyes but with your heart.”

“For heaven's sake, don't write writing. Write reading!”

“It seems to me that you won't have had a proper series of adventures, unless you've gone through thick and thin.”

“Remember, lad," said the newt, "If it's going to be tommorow, it might as well be today. And if it is today, it could have been yesterday. If it was yesterday, then you're over and done with it, and can write your own book. Think about that.”

“A sailor chooses the wind that takes the ship from a safe port. Ah, yes, but once you're abroad, as you have seen, winds have a mind of their own. Be careful, Charlotte, careful of the wind you choose.”

“The more men see of the world, the bigger their hearts”