The important thing to understand about American history, wrote Mr. Ibis, in his leather-bound journal, is that it is fictional, a charcoal-sketched simplicity for the children, or the easily bored.

You play your cards so close to your chest," said Shadow, "that I'm not even sure they're really cards at all.

Nobody's seen Jesus in years.

You know I love you,' said the other mother flatly. 'You have a very funny way of showing it,' said Coraline.

There are accounts that, if we open our hearts to them, will cut us too deeply.

I believe in absolute honesty and sensible social lies.

I do not miss childhood, but I miss the way I took pleasure in small things, even as greater things crumbled.