“‘Do you see it?’ Merildun asked quietly, from just behind her. Feather nodded, She was opening her mouth to ask a question when a violent shove in the back knocked the breath out of her. She pitched forward into nothingness, and fell.”

“This is a story about a fox and a mole. In autumn, when darkness comes early, they read aloud together in the evenings. The middle of the story might be a bit spooky. Now we begin…”

“Many people go their whole lives without noticing anything that is afoot, amiss, or even untoward - without ever experiencing that toe-tingling, tummy-twisting sensation that a mystery is about to unfold. Bonnie Montgomery noticed things that were afoot all the time because, unlike most ten-year-old girls, she was the world’s finest detective.”

“My family only sees me as the big sister. Nothing else. I have all the responsibilities of a big sister….But even though I have big sister responsibilities, my parents still treat me like a kid.” Abby Lai is the oldest sister to four very loud, very annoying siblings and is just trying to get by. But one unfortunate day, Abby and her siblings come down with chicken pox leading to a week long quarantine.

“Sometimes Grandpa goes to places that are familiar only to him. We can’t see them, but they are very real inside his head.” Cassi loves to spend time with her grandpa. Whether it’s blowing bubbles together, playing instruments, or practicing her whistling. But Grandpa seems to be forgetting things more and more, and when he forgets about Cassi during a game of hide and seek she starts to feel confused and worried.

“I used to think that understanding everyone would make me feel like I belonged. And then this change wouldn't be so bad…But maybe that’s not what belonging means.”