“I’ve seen middle grade books criticized by adult readers for leaving things for the reader to figure out, for not having perfect happily-ever-after endings. They get knocked for being too depressing, for using too many big words, for featuring parental… — Anne Ursu Copy Share
She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but… — Anne Ursu 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 that there were better things in the woods. He believed in palaces of ice and hearts to match. Hazel had, too. Hazel had believed in woodsmen and magic shoes and swanskins and the easy magic of a compass.… — Anne Ursu Copy Share
“This is what happens on journeys—the things you find are not necessarily the things you had gone looking for.” — 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 a witch,… — 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 she went… — Anne Ursu 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 knight. He… — Anne Ursu Copy Share Image
“She did not like seeing her loved ones like this, bent over with sorrow; everything in her wanted to cry out, to thrash and… — Anne Ursu 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 learning to love it there, and if you are not learning to love it there, can you please try harder? Because her mom seemed to think it was the sort of thing Hazel could choose to do, like… — Anne Ursu Copy Share
She looked at her shelves, filled with books in which the bad stuff that happened to people was caused by things like witches who… — Anne Ursu 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 I believe that goodness wins out.” He gave Hazel a serious look. “So, if someone’s changed overnight—by witch curse or poison apple or were-turtle—you have to show them what’s good. You show them love. That works a surprising… — Anne Ursu Copy Share
“...she wore weird baggy clothes and seemed like the sort of person who might tesser in some dark and stormy night.” — Anne Ursu 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
