Quotes from Jeanne Birdsall

It's not right to shoot someone because they're not intelligent.

Some secrets buried away in boxes are peacefully forgotten, just as we hope they'll be. But some refuse to stay in their boxes, popping out at the worst possible times. And then there are those...that linger and fester, gnawing away from the inside out.

Ladies and dogs," said Jeffrey, "we are about to perform 'Fanfare for the Uncommon Seal.' " "With apologies to Aaron Copland,

Her father had been forced to cancel her clarinet lessons after the neighbors complained about the practicing.

She knew that hearing bad things about yourself is one of the punishments for eavesdropping.

Skye." "Lima-Oscar-Victor-Echo

He was the least scary adult present, besides being English and therefore fascinating.

Was she in love? Rosalind had asked herself that many times in the last few weeks. Anna's mother said you're in love when you feel like you've been hit by a truck. Rosalind felt bad enough for a motorcycle, maybe, but not a truck.

Will each of my daughters be delivered to me, one at a time, as from the briny deep?

I do have an important question, but I can ask it from out here. Are you dry? Of course I'm dry. Why do you ask that? So many daughters have come home wet lately.

Then that night there was an early frost, and by Sunday morning, autumn had truly arrived. The sky was a rich cloudless blue, the air still and dry, the maple trees glowing with glorious reds and oranges and yellows, and everywhere on Gardam Street squirrels bustled about with self-importance, burying their nuts in the most unlikely places.

Ready, Lydia?" Jack asked, "Can you run?" Could she? A bobolink warbled the answer. "Yes," said Lydia, all hope and exhilaration. "Yes, I can." And away they went. the three together, prancing, leaping, gamboling into the future.

It seemed that the closer the girls got to Mrs. Tifton, the louder Skye squished, like a monster jellyfish with feet.

All was at peace while Batty picked flowers and hummed a song about kangaroos.

Aunt Claire, may I ask you a question?" "Ask away, young Jedi.

This is truly a sad comedown for a man and a Geiger. Please say you'll talk some sense into him.

So excited her wings were quivering.

A whole extra bed without a sister to go along with it!

Mendax, mendax, bracae tuae conflagrant,

And depression settled over the kitchen like a wet fog.

And then last autumn his heart had stopped working properly. The veterinarian said that they just had to care for him and love him, and Batty had loved him, and loved him, and loved him, but it hadn't been enough. No one in her family had ever said that Hound's dying was her fault, but she knew the truth. She hadn't been able to keep him with her, to stop him from leaving her behind.

She didn't like being stuck indoors because of a bully.

Jane circled the mansion, passing door after door, all too la-di-da for comfort.

Maybe it's fate Hound ate the map. Maybe we'll discover something wonderful while we're lost.