Quotes from Ann M. Martin

I knew he needed to get out of Connecticut, but couldn't he see what he was doing to our family? It was bad enough that Mom and Dad were divorced. Still, Mom and Jeff and I managed to seem like a little family. If Jeff left, it would be hard to think of Mom and me as a family. I love my mom, but I knew that the two of us were going to feel like the ends of a loaf of bread, with all the other slices gone. I wanted at least one more slice. And Mom was going to let it go.

example of one of the big differences between Kristy and me. I was wearing a very short pink cotton dress, white tights, and black ballet slippers. I had swept all of my hair way over to one side, where it was held in place with a piece of pink cloth that matched the dress. Only one ear showed, and in it I had put my big palm tree earring. (Kristy was not wearing any jewelry.)

together. "Thank you for being such polite

A pageant to choose Little Miss Stoneybrook was going to be held for girls ages five to eight. The winner would go on to a county pageant. The winner of the county pageant could compete for the Little Miss Connecticut crown. From there, she could go on to try for Little Miss America and then Little Miss World. The Little Miss World crown seemed like kind of a long shot to me.

Dad,' I said, 'you have no idea how hard it is to be a parent.

We Hate Boys Club

Daddy nodded and took a deep breath. "We can do both," he said.

My sister and I went downstairs together.

I thought for a moment. I did want the job. It sounded like fun, and I needed some fun. I didn't want to cause any more problems among us sitters, though. On the other hand, this might be my chance to prove just how good I was with kids. Certainly as good as Claudia. Imagine if Claire or Margo won the contest and became Little Miss Stoneybrook! Plus, I wouldn't mind irking Kristy just a little bit to get back at her for the induction ceremony.

Go away! Get out! Don't kill me! I've got a kitten at home. He needs me. Oh, yeah. I've also got a gun.

I, personally, have never seen a pirate with more than exactly one earring. I pointed out that if I did get my ears pierced again, probably no one would mistake me for a pirate, but Mom and Dad failed to see the humor in that.

But nobody cheered louder than me.

Janine shook her head. Then she stomped into the house. "Mean Janine," I muttered. "Come on, Jamie. Let's go." Janine had spoiled my whole afternoon.

What," said Ruby fatly as she reentered the store.

Then we headed back to the Wilder house, skipping all the way.

Or is that four words?

Jessi shot Mallory a sidelong glance. She remembered how Mal had celebrated Kwanzaa with the Ramseys the year before. The memory made something inside her tighten with sadness.

At the rate I'm growing, though, I probably won't have a chest until I'm, like, twenty-eight, and then there'll just be a measly two-year window of time in which to find and wear a bikini.)

And what did my mother think the Babysitters Club was, I wondered. A game?

shook my head. Then, tears welling up in my eyes, I fled down the hall to the lounge and sat in front of the soda machines until it was time to go home.

And many more, I said softly, watching Danielle lead the way.

Jake and I hung out in the living room and heard snatches of conversation. Just as she was about to hang up, Jake called out, "Can he come over?" "Excuse me," Mrs. Kuhn said into the phone. She covered the receiver and asked Jake, "You mean, now?" "Yeah!" Jake replied. Logan must have heard through her palm, because Mrs. Kuhn smiled and said, "It's all right with him." "It's all right with me, too," I added.

Karen Brewer was given the job of bringing over my nightgown, toothbrush, injection kit, and the Stephen King book I was now reading.

Maybe being a "princess" isn't so great. Would you always wonder whether people liked you or whether they liked the things you could do for them.