"Her father had said that if you knew where to look, you could find Mrs. Ethel J. Bundy’s Birthday Island, and loaned …"

"He believed in rational thinking and scientific inquiry, which was why he never won an argument with his mother, who …"

"Another thing about grandmother was her believe that a conversation consisted of someone else listening to her talkin…"

"And perhaps at the other end of the world there is a place where the screaming can’t be heard, and I may find it in m…"

"They didn’t know why these things were funny. Sometimes you laugh because you’ve got no more room for crying. Sometim…"

"There had been a great wave before, everyone said. It turned up in the stories of the Time When Things Were Otherwise…"

"“Are you trying to be smart, boy?” “Trying not to be dumb, sir.”"

"She felt better for all that. A good shouting at somebody always makes you feel better and in control, especially if …"

"The most important thing was that time had passed, pouring thousands of soothing seconds across the island. People ne…"

"“It’s a trick!” he said, without thinking. “Not so loud,” snapped Nawi, glancing back at the shore. “Of course it’s a…"