Quotes from Michelle Magorian

At school, if I was ever bored in class, I would draw maps of islands or detailed interior of boats or lists of provisions and equipment I would need when I went camping in the summer.

Although I could read before I went to school, and I won the school reading prize at five years old, my early children's stories came from the radio and watching films at a cinema on Saturday mornings in Australia. It wasn't until I was nine years old on a ship returning from Australia that I was introduced to children's books.

My parents were wonderful people, but there were terrible rows between them, and at times I found the atmosphere at home unbearable. The Arthur Ransome books gave me an alternative childhood and the tools to escape.

When my younger son was 13 years old, he asked me to read 'Swallows and Amazons' to him while he made models. He liked it so much that I ended up reading all thirteen of Ransome's books, including the ones that I missed out on. This led my son to 'Treasure Island,' 'Robinson Crusoe' and 'Coral Island.'

I'd rather be happy and odd than miserable and ordinary,' she said, sticking her chin in the air.

It occurred to him that strength was quite different from toughness and that being vulnerable wasn't quite the same as being weak.

I would do anything to save our love because our love is my life

How could anyone not want to live, thought Will, when there were so many things to live for? there were rainy nights and wind and the slap of the sea and the moon. There were books to read and pictures to paint and music.

I expect you think I'm a bit forward,' remarked Zach. 'Wot?

Cream and amber butterflies flew intermittently from behind the hedgerows and strange, exotic smells hit their noses.

The sun shone in a clear uncluttered azure sky

Do you think, said Will, gazing over the wall at the oak tree, do you think you can die of happiness?

Miss Thorne said no more. Poor boy, she thought, away from his loving home and now dumped with an irritable old man. Tom

Everythin' has its own time. That's what Mister Tom ses.

He wished his tongue wasn't quite so dry and that the skin round his neck didn't feel so very tight.

Do not be scared of the dead,Least they can not drop an ole bomb on your head.

His parents had taught him that whoever or whatever God was, he, she or it could probably understand silent thoughts but it made Zach feel better to voice his feelings aloud.

London lot and they take you for a ride. I had cigarettes, chocolate

He strode in excitedly and they turned to face him. Dr Little looked grave and Aunt Nance had been crying. They didn't need to say anything. He knew that Zach was dead.

And you can ah till the cows come home.

He knew that Zach was dead.