I always found that it helps to get my students thinking…

“I think there should be a rule that everyone should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives because they overcometh the…

— R.J. Palacio

“And being at school was awful in the beginning. Every new class I had was like a new chance for kids to “not stare”…

— R.J. Palacio

“That’s when I saw Daisy sitting near my bed. I mean, I knew it wasn’t Daisy, but for a second I saw a shadow…

— R.J. Palacio

“Funny how sometimes you worry a lot about something and it turns out to be nothing.”

— R.J. Palacio

“The first look I got of August, well, it made me want to cover my eyes and run away screaming.”

— R.J. Palacio

“We’re kind of like Beauty and the Beast.”

— R.J. Palacio

“No, it’s okay,” I said. “Let’s just go”

— R.J. Palacio

“Or, what does a poor man have, a rich man need, and you would die if you ate it?”

— R.J. Palacio

“Sometimes when I have the feeling like I’m almost crying, it can turn into an almost-laughing feeling.”

— R.J. Palacio

“My name is August, by the way. I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.”

— R.J. Palacio

“Actually, I prefer not to even try to imagine it.”

— R.J. Palacio

“Her smile hugged me”

— R.J. Palacio

“Here I was looking for symbolism and metaphors and um . . . sometimes a duck is just a duck!"--Mr. Tushman”

— R.J. Palacio

“Shall we make a new rule of life... always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary?”

— R.J. Palacio

“August is the Sun. Me and Mom and Dad are planets orbiting the Sun. The rest of our family and friends are asteroids and…

— R.J. Palacio