Quotes from Trenton Lee Stewart

For the newcomers among us," S.Q. said, "let me remind you that you, too, could be privy to the special privileges enjoyed by our Messengers.

You must remember, family is often born of blood, but it doesn't depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family.

He started out foolish and lazy and ended up foolish and crooked.

He cranked the key until the watch was fully wound, then withdrew the key and held the watch to his ear.

Constance shrieked. The other children jumped. Milligan sighed.

Anyway, Reynie thought, if nothing else comes of this, at least you're making friends. That's more than you had yesterday.

Standing in the doorway, regarding him with an expression of predatory pleasure, was The Smoke.

His amusement was too plain.

the word LIVE—an acronym, obviously, for the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened. "At least it doesn't say die," Kate mused.

Breakable codes and findable clues. Everything had been done on purpose.

The missing aren't missing, they're only departed

There's a limited number of Messengers, you see, and no guarantee that any will stay a Messenger.

I prefer to remain mysterious.

Nine stitches?" S.Q. said. "No, Martina, I'm certain it's just one stitch." "No, a stitch in time saves nine," Martina scoffed. "Exactly," S.Q. replied.

He had known that emotions could change a person's perception of facts, but he had never imagined them capable of such slyness. It was important to keep an eye on them--to remain alert to their secret workings.

Sometimes, Reynie, trouble itself is the key.

And yet, in certain ways, the Institute did remind them of other schools: Rote memorization of lessons was discouraged but required; class participation was encouraged but rarely permitted;

she spilt food with abandon, chewed with her mouth open as often as not, and held her utensils like shovels.

Reynie knew they would be almost impossible to see down here, yet he suddenly felt so sure of being spotted he could almost hear the Ten Men's voices echoing down to the landing, "Oh, chickies! Here chickies!" But the men didn't even glance in their direction, and an instant later had passed out of view.

Constance's tiny feet

Reynie had helped Constance with her mittens (she was close to tears trying to get her thumbs in their places)

Milligan, having found nothing else to throw, had thrown himself.

Whenever they finished a section they would pass it to Constance, who glanced at the headlines and drew mustaches and devil horns on people in the photographs. The children were allowed to linger over the papers as long as they wished, but they seldom lingered long, for the older ones looked forward to their exercises and lessons, which offered a welcome change of pace, and Constance ran out of pictures to deface.

Constance wrapped her arms tightly around her knees and hissed like an angry cat.