I always tell the truth, Stella replies. Although I sometimes confuse the facts.

Oh, I'm sure we could talk them into letting us in for nothing," Marco said. "Just tell them we're Animorphs." "Tell them we're what?" Rachel asked. "Idiot teenagers with a death wish," Marco said. "Animorphs." I tried the word out. It sounded okay.

They think I'm too old to cause trouble. Old age is a powerful disguise.

Humans waste words. They toss them like banana peels and leave them to rot. Everyone knows the peels are the best part.

I was Jake's insurance policy. He thought maybe he wouldn't have to use me. He hoped, anyway. But down deep he knew, and I knew, and we both hid the truth from the others because Cassie couldn't let Jake make that decision, and Tobias couldn't let me, and those two, by loving us, would have screwed everything up. It was a war, after all. A war we had to win.

Growing up gorilla is just like any other kind of growing up. You make mistakes. You play. You learn. You do it all over again.

Her eyes hold the pale moon in them, the way a still pond holds stars.