... Next time you're faced with a choice, do the right thing. It hurts everyone less in the long run.

— Wendelin Van Draanen

One's character is set at an early age, son. The choices you make now will affect you for the rest of your life." He was quiet for a minute then dropped the curtain and said, "I hate to see you swim out so far you can't swim back.

— Wendelin Van Draanen

One's character is set at an early age. The choices you make now will affect you for the rest of your life. I hate to see you swim out so far you can't swim back.

— Wendelin Van Draanen

Proper lighting is everything, Julianna.

— Wendelin Van Draanen

Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss...." He turned to me. "But every once in a while, you find someone who's iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare.

— Wendelin Van Draanen

Sometimes a little discomfort in the beginning can save a lot of pain down the road.

— Wendelin Van Draanen

Sometimes I get so caught up in my own problems that I forget how amazing the world is.

— Wendelin Van Draanen

That's the funny thing about running. The deceptive thing about it. It may seem mindless, but it's really mental. If the minds strong, the body acts weak, even if it's not.

— Wendelin Van Draanen

There’s no winning arguments with your parents, so why get all pumped up over them? It is way better to dive and get out of the way than it is to get clobbered by some parental tidal wave.

— Wendelin Van Draanen

The room fell quiet. And as I read down the list of over one hundred and fifty eight-grade boys, I realized that to me, there had only ever been one boy.

— Wendelin Van Draanen