How much do you know about the Heartland War?' Connor shrugs. 'It was the last chapter in our history textbook, but we had state testing, so we never got to it.

My grandmother used to say that twisting paths always cross again," he told her. "And whose paths are more twisted than ours?

And," added Mikey. "she's my sister." The others looked at him for a moment, and broke out laughing. "Yeah, yeah," Squirrel scoffed, "and the McGill is my cousin." Now Allie burst out laughing, which made Mikey more annoyed. "If the McGill was your cousin," Mikey said, "I can guarantee he'd disown you.

Touch is a freaky thing when you're not used to it. It makes you feel all kinds of things.

Connor smiles with mocking warmth at him, and glances at the tattoo on his wrist. "I like your dolphin.

When you live a life without questions, you're unprepared for the questions when they come.

Words don't hurt you." Which is one of the hugest criminal lies perpetrated by adults against children in this world. Because words hurt more than any physical pain.