What people tell me they take away from my books is that they can shape their lives, they can achieve their own dreams. And certainly that's what I want them to take away.

If I say you're a goatherd's son, you say, 'Yes, Lord Ralon.'" Alanna gasped with fury. "I'd as soon kiss a pig! Is that what you've been doing-kissing pigs? Or being kissed?

Alan, you seem to think we won't like you unless you do things just like everyone else. Have you ever thought we might like you because you're different?

I was nuts for stuff in the Middle Ages when I was just in the third and fourth grades.

Do we say, Oh now I'm going to be nice to the weak and the small? Or do we do as we learned when we were pages?

I forgot my purse of laughter when I dressed this mornin'," she told me. "Have you not bought anythin' the last few days? Prices have gone up. Pay or starve, it's all one to me.

Girl, boy or dancing bear, you're the finest page-the finest squire-to-be-at court." (Jon to Alanna)