Quotes from Sharon M. Draper

Dad also has the loudest, stinkiest farts in creation. I don't know how he manages to control them at work, or even if he does, but when he'd get home, he'd let them loose. They'd start as he walked up the stairs.

What's Mr. Dimming's first name?" "Wallace!" We all cracked up at that.

Everybody uses words to express themselves. Except me. And I bet most people don't realize the real power of words. But I do. Thoughts

Why are some people mean and some people nice?" "I don't rightly know...But my job is to teach all of you to be the best people you can be...

Yesterday your heart was broken because they left you

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" -Papa

It's hard to imagine you and Daddy as ever being young and foolish. I figured you just appeared one day, fully grown and knowing all the answers," she teased.

My mind is cloudy. My heart is bloody, and my soul is on ice.

En lo más profundo de mi ser, las palabras se amontonan en montañas enormes formando frases, ideas conectadas entre sí, expresiones inteligentes, bromas y canciones de amor.

Todos utilizan palabras para expresarse excepto yo. Y estoy segura de que la mayoría de las personas no se dan cuenta del poder que poseen las palabras. Pero yo sí. Los pensamientos necesitan de las palabras y las palabras necesitan de la voz.

And it seemed so easy! Sure, she fell on her face a few times, but once she

Those aides deserve medals. We're not an easy bunch.

Ingredients 1 large bottle white grape juice 4 drops red food color (or blue food color for the blue soda) 1 two-liter bottle of 7-Up (or similar product) 2 cups strawberry sherbet (or blueberry sherbet for the blue soda) Directions 1. Add food coloring to the white grape juice. 2. Pour the juice and the soda into a large pitcher. 3. Add sherbet and serve.

IT'S FUNNY—WHEN Dad was in California, Mom's house was where I lived. It was home. But now I don't really feel like I have a home—it's more like I live at Dad's place. Or Mom's place. I never say "I'm going home" anymore. It's "I'm going to my mom's." Or "I'm going to my dad's." Going. Not staying. Actually, it's not funny at all.

Donovan Beaudry rolled his window down; ear-splittingly loud rap music exploded from the truck's custom-installed sound gear. The SUV rolled on twenty-four-inch dubs and sported a shiny set of Sprewells that Justin knew cost around $2,000 a set. The hubcaps continued to spin even after the car came to a stop. He didn't even want to think about how Donovan could have paid for all that.

I look at my friends [in H5] thru different eyes...Not one of them even knows how to be mean.

I wondered if I were blown to Oz with my dog, what would we ask the wizard for? Hmmm. Brains? I've got plenty. Courage? Butterscotch is scared of nothing! A heart? We've got lots of heart, me and my pup. So what would I ask for? I'd like to sing like the Cowardly Lion and dance like the Tin Man. Neither one of them did those things very well, but that would be good enough for me.

Claire and Molly eventually got their chairs returned, but they haven't chosen to be buddies for anybody yet. That's fine with me.

I figured the teacher offered me the candy to shut up Claire and Molly and to make me feel good that I accidentally got all the questions right. But it was no accident. I knew them all. Every single one.

You know how athletes get ready for the Olympics? They swim early in the morning and late at night. They run around the track for hours and hours without a crowd to cheer them on.

Deleted the memory—need room for facts," I took the time to type.

So I did. I strained. I reached. I tried so hard, I farted! Mrs. V cracked up.

Songs Float up to sky- fly free

The week zipped by. I studied at school every day with Catherine, after school every day with Mrs. V, and every evening at home as well. I reviewed words from all the levels of my board. I practiced spelling long words and matching facts and dates. I made up my own games.