Quotes from Sharon M. Draper

If Maria is our hugger, Gloria is our rocker. She rocks for hours in the corner under one of the dumb smiling flowers.

Everybody thinks they know me

Nobody rides trains anymore!

Mama once told Gary to put his anger in a pot and let it simmer.

A man named Hitler from Germany has lots of soldiers following him. He calls them storm troopers.

I don't think they get paid very much, because they never stay very long. But they should get a million dollars. What they do is really hard, and I don't think most folks get that. It

Earthquake report: Expect big aftershocks—nothing like this has ever been seen before.

Earthquake report: Walls are tumbling everywhere!

Earthquake report: This is the big one.

Her mother gave her a piece of warm biscuit and a hug before they left. "Stones don't cry, child. Remember that," was all she said.

Finally he said, "Bad writers don't practice, Stella. It's the good ones who care enough to try, who worry about getting the words just right. You are probably better than you think.

Then let us pray," Pastor Patton said firmly. Stella noticed a few townspeople slowing down as they passed by; none of the faces looked pleasant. She closed her eyes. "Dear Lord," said the pastor, we bow down before you as we stand up for dignity. Be with us and protect us both morning, noon and night. Amen.

There's an unseen river of communication that forever flows—dark and powerful. Tonight was about food and laughter, yes. But it was also about navigatin' that river." A

Stella expected to see fire in Mr. Spencer's eyes, fire like the flames that had made tinder of his house. Instead his eyes were soft, gentle, and brown like the earth. "I have to show them they didn't destroy me," he said simply.

And you, Jonah? Is your family behind you on this?" Stella's father hesitated. "Georgia supports me, but she was a mite trembly this morning. I brought Stella, though." He squeezed her shoulders affectionately. "I don't want to just tell her about bravery—I want to show her what it looks like.

So Hobart and Harriett get their house burned down? What's next--a lynching?" Mrs. Bates jerked the bucket from the woman next to her. "I've seen a body swingin'. Three times in my life," her husband said, his voice low. For a moment, except for the roaring of the smoky flames, everyone went quite. Stella wondered how silence could be so loud.

Twenty minutes later, just as Stella thought she was going to collapse with worry and anticipation, her father, the pastor, and Mr. Spencer emerged from the polling station, smiles lighting their faces. And now she saw what she'd expected to see earlier in Mr. Spencer's eyes. They were on fire.

by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and The Giver by Lois Lowry. And

I have learned to be patient with people. Once again I point to Rose's computer and then to the words me too.

They make computers for the special eddies?" "It talks? Mine doesn't do that." "You don't need yours to talk!" "It sounds weird." "So do you.

Sometimes I just get tired of bowin' down and givin' up, you know?" It

We've got to think positive thoughts.

Sonatina in C Major, op. 36, no. 1.

Never in my life have I had a teacher tell me to be quiet because I was talking to somebody in class! It was the best feeling in the world! I felt like the rest of the kids.