Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Quotes

…and I’m thinking how nothing is as simple as you guess-not right or wrong, not Judd Travers, not even me or this dog I got here. But the good part is I saved Shiloh and opened my eyes some. Now that...

I used to think that when I grew up there wouldn't be so many rules. Back in elementary school there were rules about what entrance you used in the morning, what door you used going home, when you cou...

That's the unforgivable sin, you know.What is?Refusing to forgive someone.Refusing to forgive someone is the unforgivable sin? I asked incredulously.

One way to tell if you're really comfortable with a person is if you can be quiet together sometimes and not feel awkward. If you don't feel obligated to say something brilliant or funny or surprising...

Patrick and I were about as different as two people could possibly be. Nothing embarrasses Patrick very much, and everything embarrasses me. Just being alive embarrasses me.

There were so many of these moments that could never be captured accurately, even in the camcorder, only in the heart.

How one lie leads to another and before you know it, your whole life can be a lie.

Whatever did girls do without sisters?

I wanted my children and grandchildren to know that no matter when you are born or where you live, happiness and disappointments have the same flavors the world over.

I know, but if I feel this bad for Gramps, how am I going to feel when it’s Dad? Tyler told me. You’ll feel even worse, of course, but you’ll carry on, because happiness has a way of creeping in again...

But how did you know that it was Stacy?There wasn’t a green light flashing, that’s for sure, he said. Mostly, I felt I’d met a person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. That I didn’t need to...

The boys want us to think the river’s polluted. I heard them talking!Those creepy jerks! cried Caroline.Those jerky creeps! said Eddie. This isn’t a joke anymore. This is war!

Stares down at her spinach. It looks like poop, she says.

Plus a porch that runs along three sides of the house. I told Ma once the Howards had a room just for company, a room just for books, and a room just for plants, and she said that was three rooms too...

I supposed we just ring the doorbell and say, ‘Look, let’s bury the hatchet and be friends,’ Beth suggested.The girls looked at each other and smiled a little.Naw, said Caroline. This is a lot more f...

I’m sorry, Shiloh, I whisper, over and over, both hands on him so’s he won’t try to get up. The blood’s just pouring from a rip in his ear. I’m so sorry! Jesus help me, I didn’t know Bakers’ dog could...

Now, what’s this all about? she demanded.They started it, Mom, said Caroline, wringing out the tail of her shirt.We did not! said Jake hotly. Eddie turned the hose on Josh.He dropped his bucket on pur...

They’re coming! Josh yelled.Like a whirlwind the twins rushed downstairs, where Peter was waiting. With Wally bringing up the rear they all went outside.The two older Malloy sisters, wearing jeans and...

Caroline said to herself. Well, the Hatfords would soon find out they were no match for the Malloys.

It’s hard to sleep that night. Our sofa’s got more lumps than bean soup, and every time I turn over, I pull out the blanket from the bottom. I get up about two in the morning and stand at the window....