Olivia reminds me of a bird sometimes, how her feathers get all ruffled when she's mad. And when she's fragile like this, she's a little lost bird looking for its nest.

— R.J. Palacio

One of the reasons I grew my hair long last year was that I like how my bangs cover my eyes: it helps me block out the things I don't want to see."-August thinking

— R.J. Palacio

So doesn't that make the universe a giant lottery, then? You purchase a ticket when you're born. And it's all just random whether you get a good ticket or a bad ticket. It's all just luck.

— R.J. Palacio

So I just went over and sat with him. Not a biggie. I wish people would stop trying to turn it into something more. He's just a kid. The weirdest-looking kid I've ever seen, yes. But just a kid.

— R.J. Palacio

Sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of dreams

— R.J. Palacio

Sometimes I think my head is so big because its full of dreams

— R.J. Palacio

Sometimes it's good to start over

— 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

Such a simple thing, kindness. Such a simple thing. A nice word of encouragement, given when needed. An act of friendship. A passing smile.

— R.J. Palacio

The best way to measure how much you've grown isn't by inches or the number of laps you can now run around the track, or even your grade point average-- though those things are important, to be sure. It's what you've done with your time, how you've chosen to spend your days, and whom you've touched this year. That, to me, is the greatest measure of success.

— R.J. Palacio