"The padlock snapped shut with the loudest click I'd ever heard." Chapter 2, pg. 20.

"A bud is a flower-to-be. A flower-in-waiting. Waiting for just the right warmth and care to open up. It's a little fist of love waiting to unfold and be seen by the world. And that's you." Chapter 5, pg. 42

"We slapped our hands together as hard as we could and got our slobs mixed up real good, then waved them in the air so they'd dry. Now it was official, I finally had a brother!" Chapter 8, pg. 63

"I scooched my lips up and mashed my face on Deza Malone's. We stuck like that for a hot second, but it felt like a long time." Chapter 8, pg. 75

"I used a little trick to help me fall off to sleep. I pulled my blanket right up over my head and breathed in the smell real deep. After doing...