“The boys wouldn’t come to save him. Only Hazel would. And maybe that’s why the boys would win.” — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
Her father said she was a princess. He did not see that she was a brave knight. — Anne Ursu Brave Copy Share Image
“His words sounded foolish to his own ears. He was not impressive. He was small like the world.” — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
She understood. They were plastic flowers of words—but they looked nice on the surface. — Anne Ursu Flower Copy Share Image
In woods where the woodsmen told lies, maybe it was the wolves who told the truth. — Anne Ursu Lying Copy Share Image
“The witch raised one careful eyebrow. “I? I want nothing,” she told Hazel. “Don’t you see? I want nothing.” — Anne Ursu Witch Copy Share Image
“We’re starting with the villain,” Martin interjected. “Because they are the most fun.” — Anne Ursu Character Copy Share Image
Sometimes superheroes are born, sometimes they are made. Sometimes they make themselves. Sometimes all it takes is will. — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run… — Anne Ursu Bears Copy Share Image
“I think if you'll look around, my boy,' he said gently, 'you'll find that no one is quite right. But we all… — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
“He remembered that part like you’d remember a story someone told to you once, like you might nod in sympathy but it… — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
“She just eyed them coolly, as if they were nothing to her, as if their nothingness surprised and slightly repelled her.” — Anne Ursu Repelled Copy Share Image
“No one took her seriously because she was small and feathered, a strange little dino-bird, but she had a sickle claw and… — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
Kids can handle a lot more than you think they can. It's when they get to be grown up that you have… — Anne Ursu Child Copy Share Image
“That was the point where she was supposed to sound tough, like she was someone to be reckoned with, like she was… — Anne Ursu Witches Copy Share Image
“It was not supposed to be this easy. This was to be the final confrontation. There was to be struggle, torment, despair.… — Anne Ursu Struggle Copy Share Image
“There is a way the truth hits you, both hard and gentle at the same time. It punches you in the stomach… — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
“She hated this place. Nothing made sense. Nothing worked as it was supposed to. She was supposed to be learning things as… — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
“A sick-hued darkness overtook Hazel. There was ground, somewhere, and somewhere beyond that there was a palace, and somewhere beyond that was… — Anne Ursu Darkness Copy Share Image
“I believe that the world isn’t always what we can see,” he said. “I believe there are secrets in the woods. And… — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
Now, the world is more than it seems to be. You know this, of course, because you read stories. You understand that… — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
If shadows were caused by the interplay between light and Life, a child's was still forming. An adult's was inextricably bound to… — Anne Ursu Adults Copy Share Image
“She came in thinking she would rescue him, like some sort of story, like a little kid pretending to be a brave… — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
“But I can tell you this,” he continued. “The white witch doesn’t feel things the way we do, do you understand? She’s… — Anne Ursu Witch Copy Share Image
Hazel had read enough books to know that a line like this one is the line down which your life breaks in… — Anne Ursu Barriers Copy Share Image
Jack believed in something—he believed in white witches and sleighs pulled by wolves, and in the world the trees obscured. He believed… — Anne Ursu Better things Copy Share Image
“Jack was the only person she knew with an imagination, at least a real one. The only tea parties he’d have were… — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
“Once upon a time, there was a boy named Jack who got lost in the woods. His best friend went after him.… — Anne Ursu Best friend Copy Share Image
“Hazel knew her mother really meant I hope there is something you were dying to do at school today, that you are… — Anne Ursu Parenting Copy Share Image
“Hazel wanted to ask him what he was thinking, what he was feeling, if he was regretting the witch or was just… — Anne Ursu Mind and heart Copy Share Image
This morning, as Charlotte approached the brick facade of Hartnett, she found herself overcome with a great sense of dread. It hit… — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
“I’ve seen middle grade books criticized by adult readers for leaving things for the reader to figure out, for not having perfect… — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
“ This is nothing. And you are nothing. She took another step, and stumbled. The ground was plummeting downward now. You are… — Anne Ursu Best friend Copy Share Image
This is what it is to live in the world. You have to give yourself over to the cold, at least a… — Anne Ursu Cold Copy Share Image
“What are you supposed to do when something like that happens? Do you hold on or let go?” — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
“She didn’t know the answer. But there had to be a way. There was always a way.” — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
“It’s a plié. You do it on all the positions. It’s very good for dramatic moments.” — Anne Ursu Dramatic Copy Share Image
“She had believed that because someone needed saving they were savable.” — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
The halls were empty. Charlotte had missed the first bell and would be late, again. Her homeroom teacher would ask her for… — Anne Ursu Bells Copy Share Image
