Quotes from Gordon Korman

With a terrified yelp, the guard turned tail and ran the other way.

And believe me, it's not—repeat, not—because Aldo asked me to the Fall Ball, which is this big dance they throw before Thanksgiving break.

He could already hear the "You haven't even given it a chance yet" lecture, one of his mother's favorites. Then his father would deliver the crowning touch with "Life is what you make it." It was a devastating combination

only nobody knows about it but us.

If I had to watch Matt take one more bite of that veggie patty, I would have popped a blood vessel.

everybody else thought it was there because it was supposed

Eventually, the sound of me slapping myself in the face to stay alert disturbs Malik and we switch spots.

I lost that feeling of belonging to something wonderful.

and called you cousin while reaching around to put the knife between your shoulder blades. This contest was supposed to be so high and mighty — a chance to shape the future. But the nitty-gritty was more like a reality TV show called Who Wants to Be a Backstabber? It was getting more cutthroat by the hour. Were all Cahills so

I've never heard a teacher say something that was so completely, totally honest.

It doesn't come from posters, or streamers, or rallies, or funny hat days. And it definitely doesn't come from making an ungodly racket with a cheap plastic instrument of torture that was invented purely for disturbing the peace!

It only underscores the feeling that everything from our past has vanished.

Another of my crimes against humanity, like bullying her brother, and not dying when I fell off the roof.

Even a lousy parent is better than no parent at all.

I used to call my dad. The surge of emotion is so raw that it's all I can do to hold back tears. One look at him and I'm six years old again, and he's hugging me and stroking my hair the way he did when I was upset. I was living a lie back then, but at least I was happy.

Turns out C. J. Rackoff is allergic to peanut butter. Who knew? And I love peanut butter.

about an hour, Malik watching through the sunroof, following every move the chopper makes overhead. "It's

I was the fifth wheel nobody wanted.

That's not gross; that's one gross. It means there's a hundred and forty-four vuvuzelas in each carton.

I've actually started enjoying the Bath in a what-doesn't-kill-you-makes-you-stronger sort of way.

It's a pleasure to see you again, Doctor, Nellie said sweetly. It would be an even greater pleasure to take a baseball bat to your lousy head.

I glance at the rearview mirror, and see Elaine flashing me a thumbs-up.

Shhh," her brother whispered. "I think we're on the yacht." She got shakily to her feet. The deck pitched slightly.

We don't have to love it. We just have to steal it.