R.J. Palacio

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

— 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…

— 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…

— 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…

— R.J. Palacio

“So,” Mom said. “How did you meet Summer if she wasn’t in any of your classes?” “We sat together at lunch,” I…

— R.J. Palacio

“I’ve never seen Dad cry before, but I saw him cry tonight. I had gone into Mom and Dad’s bedroom looking for…

— R.J. Palacio

“Your deeds are your monuments.”

— R.J. Palacio

“I wasn't even sure why I was getting this medal, really. No, that's not true. I knew why. It's like people you…

— R.J. Palacio

“Now that I look back, I don't know why I was so stressed about it all this time. Funny how sometimes you…

— R.J. Palacio

“In situations like these, baseball caps come in really handy.”

— R.J. Palacio

“Jack, sometimes you don't have to be mean to hurt someone.”

— R.J. Palacio

“She just sat back in her chair, her head slightly tilted, and I could tell by looking into her eyes that she…

— R.J. Palacio

“The strength of one’s courage,” he repeated quietly, nodding and smiling. He held up his right hand like he was counting off.…

— R.J. Palacio

“That’s the thing about being scared, though. You can’t control it.”

— R.J. Palacio