Her curiosity was too much for her. She felt almost as if she could hear the books whispering on the other side of the half-open door. They were promising her a thousand unknown stories, a thousand doors into worlds she had never seen before.

Because fear kills everything," Mo had once told her. "Your mind, your heart, your imagination.

What on earth have you packed in here? Bricks?" asked Mo as he carried Meggie's book-box out of the house. You're the one who says books have to be heavy because the whole world's inside them," said Meggie.

Only in books could you find pity, comfort, happiness and love.

Power. Intoxicating. Like a fine wine.

We're all liars when it serves our purpose.

Nothing chased nightmares away faster than the rustle of printed paper.