Quotes from Maureen Johnson

She could have sworn the little blue eye of Edward King's security camera in the cupola ceiling winked at her. It saw all.

Falling down a hole is easy. Everyone should try it. You just let the ground go away and allow gravity to do its thing.

That's what they call the pub. Your pub is your local, and we have a local. And you have to go. It's the law.

My parents t-trust me. Stevie and David looked at her blankly. What's that l-like? David asked.

It's a very strange feeling," Theo said, "a secret I've been holding all these years being out in the open at last. What you did last night was impressive. It's . . . so strange. I feel like something's missing. Of course, something—someone—is missing.

Janelle did a tiny squee. It was an actual squee, a real one.

I think Lucas is going to Misery your ass,' Stevie said. 'Sorry about your ankles.

Fine," he said. "Anything is better than doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

Stevie wanted to do the same but found she could not move. Angela had been her case, her charge, her person to protect. She had known something was very wrong, but now it was

You're not weird in the head.' 'There's a giant talking chicken next to me that would say otherwise.

What serves on either side, and if you wish to hide, may protect you from your foe, or show him where to go?

She marveled at Janelle, who moved through the patches of sun that came through the leaves, with her perfect style. It wasn't fancy, but it made every moment feel like an occasion. Many people existed; Janelle lived.

This report claims that after the kidnapping and murders, Albert Ellingham rewrote his will, leaving his fortune to anyone who could find his daughter, dead or alive, provided they were not responsible for the crimes.

A half hour later, with a new schedule and an alarming set of personal academic benchmarks to meet, Steve was released back into the wild, feeling a confusing blend of joy and terror, which was often a ticket to a ride on the anxiety roller coaster.

I like it," she lied. "You don't understand the Pulsating Norb. No one understands the Pulsating Norb." "I ship it." "Nobody ships the Pulsating Norb," Nate said.

Stevie meant to smile and nod, but she ended up enacting the shrug emoticon.

and things that looked just like palaces even thought they probably weren't.

He was so sick of being with these people all the time. He loved them, sure, but he was finished with it all. The drama. The competition. The never-ending need to impress, to entertain

He silently gave thanks to the wealthy builders of this country pile who worked very hard to make sure they never had to see other people doing work.

I wrote the first book, and then I forgot how to write. It used to be that I would sit and write, and I would go into some other world--I could see it all. I was totally in another place. But the second it became something I had to do, something in me broke.

If you want, he said with a shrug. It's up to you. If you want to be lifted, I'll lift you.' Oh yes, Elsa said, refilling all the glasses. There will be lifting. Clio realized that she hadn't spoken through any of this. It was all Elsa lifting and carrying the conversation, twirling around with it. Sure, Clio said. Pick up me up. Aidan tipped his head in concession, his green eyes lit up for once. You want me to pick you up, I guess I can't refuse.

David Eastman....was a shade under six feet, his build wiry, like he had been made of bundles of snapping electrical cables that had wound themselves together into a person, sparks still coming from the ends.......Everything on his face was too narrow, too fine. The lines sharp. His eyes always looked half closed, but they had more life behind them than most. It's the creature that pretends to be asleep that you need to watch out for.

I wrote the first book and then I forgot how to write. It used to be that I would sit and write and I would go into some other world—I could see it all. I was totally in another place. But the second it became something I had to do, something in me broke. It's like I used to know the way to some magical land and I lost the map.

He was aware that something odd was happening in his mind, that he was so swamped with adrenaline and champagne that he had developed an intense focus. The life-or-death moment brought forth the heaviest chemicals the body could produce.