“And Max, I've put some scraps in a bowl for your dog," Mom said. "It's on the floor, by the back door." The flock and I went still. Uh-oh, I thought. Total stomped up to me, his glare accusing. "A bowl on the floor!" he seethed. "Why don't you just chain me to a stake in the yard and throw me a bone!”

“And Flock Rule Number Two is, Don't argue with Max or you'll live to regret it." I spun and stomped out to the clearing, turning back for one last jab at Dylan. "And by the way, you clearly DON'T know me better than Fang does. Do you see Fang arguing with me? No, you do not."Fang rolled his eyes.”

“What I said yesterday didn't mean anything! I love everyone in the flock! Plus, it was the Valium talking!""Uh-huh. You just keep telling yourself that. You looove me."Max: (tries to punch him)"Pick a tree. I'll go carve our initials in it."Max: (screams and runs into bathroom)”

“Dr. Martinez: "I take it you don't want me to call your parent?"Max: "Uh, no." Hello, lab? May I speak to the test tube please?”

“Well, I don’t know. Mostly I just suck up what life throws my way, stomp on it, and then keep going. I don’t dwell much on what I am or how I got this way. It just is. I just am. I’m Max, and whatever form I take, it’s good enough for me.”

“Max: "Okay guys, I had a couple thoughts I wanted to go over with you."Iggy: (pretends to snore loudy)Max: (throws another pinecone at him)Iggy: "Quit throwing things at me!"Max: "Glad you could join us.”

“You can call me Agent Mickelson,' he told me with a smile. 'What about you? Is Max short for something? Maxine?''No, Dean. It's just Max.”