A rat called Possible New Strain was sitting under a spaghetti strainer held down with a pile of journalism textbooks, saying rude things in rat-speak.

Surely no one would ever use such a weapon against a city." "There are no limits in war," Volger said, still staring out the window.

Deryn felt brilliant, rising through the air at the center off everyone's attention, like an acrobat aloft on a swing. She wanted to make a speech: Hey, all you sods, I can fly and you can't! A natural airman, in case you haven't noticed. And in conclusion, I'd like to add that I'm a girl and you can all get stuffed!

Apparently textbooks were an endangered species here in Bixby, Oklahoma.

your not alone, Tally. Don't pretend you are

However stupid the choice seemed, Shay had made it with her eyes open, and had respected Tally's choice to stay.

What did a happy ending even mean in real life, anyway? In stories you simply said, 'They lived happily ever after,' and that was it. But in real life people had to keep on living, day after day, year after year.