“
I can talk to fish!" Angel said happily, water dripping off her long, skinny body. "Ask one over for dinner," Fang said, joining us.
”
”
James Patterson (School's Out—Forever (Maximum Ride, #2))
“
They turned to Angel. "We will call you Little One," the leader said, obviously deciding to dispense with the whole confusing name thing.
"Okay," said Angel agreeably. "I'll call you Guy in a White Lab Coat." He frowned.
"That can be his Indian name," I suggested.
”
”
James Patterson (Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (Maximum Ride, #3))
“
Nudge threw her arms around my neck. 'I love you Max! I love all of us too!'
Yeah, me too,' Said the Gasman. 'I don't care if we have our house, or a cliff ledge, or a cardboard box. Home is wherever we all are, together.
”
”
James Patterson
“
They're afraid of change, and we must change. They're afraid of the young, and we are the young. They're afraid of music, and music is our life. They're afraid of books, and knowledge, and ideas. They're most afraid of our magic.
”
”
James Patterson (Witch & Wizard (Witch & Wizard, #1))
“
You see, one of the best things about reading is that you'll always have something to think about when you're not reading.
”
”
James Patterson (The Christmas Wedding)
“
What kind of thoughtless creep would burn a book?
”
”
James Patterson
“
He gives my hand a tight squeeze, but that desperation, that urgency between us is gone. No insecurities. Max and Fang. Fang and Max. No longer a question. We just are.
”
”
James Patterson
“
At the end of the warehouse was a dais constructed from pallets of books: stack of vampire novels, walls of James Patterson thrillers, and a throne from about a thousand copies of something called The Five Habits of Highly Aggressive Women.
”
”
Rick Riordan (The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus, #2))
“
There's no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong books.
”
”
James Patterson
“
Just because life is hard and always ends in a bad way doesn't mean that all stories have to. Even if that's what they tell us in school and the New York Book Review.
”
”
James Patterson (Sundays at Tiffany's)
“
Except fang. I glared at him. "Go on, try to stop me, I dare you." It was like the old days when we used to wrestle, each trying to get the better of the other. I was ready to take him down, my hands curled into fist. "I was just going to say be careful," Fang told me. He stepped closer and brushed some hair out of my eyes. "And I've got your back." He motioned with his head toward the torpedo chamber. Oh my God. It hit me like a tsunami then, how perfect he was for me, how no one else would ever, could ever, be so perfect for me, how he was everything I could possibly hope for, as a friend, boyfriend, maybe even more. He was it for me. There would be no more looking. I really, really loved him, with a whole new kind of love I'd never felt before, something that made every other kind of love I'd ever felt feel washed out and wimpy in comparison. I loved him with every cell in my body, every thought in my head, every feather in my wings, every breathe in my lungs. and air sacs. Too bad I was going out to face almost certain death. Right there in front of everyone, I threw my arms around his neck and smashed my mouth against his. He was startled for a second, then his strong arms wrapped around me so tightly I could hardly breathe. "ZOMG," I heard Nudge whisper, but still fang and I kissed slanting our heads this way and that to get closer. I could have stood there and kissed him happily for the next millennium, but Angel, or what was left of her was still out there in the could dark ocean. Reluctantly, I ended the kiss, took a step back. Fang's obsidian eyes were glittering brightly and his stoic face had a look of wonder on it."Gotta go," I said quietly. A half smile quirked his mouth. "Yeah. Hurry back." I nodded and he stepped out of the air lock chamber, keeping his eyes fixed on me, memorizing me as he hit the switch that sealed the chamber. The doors hissed shut with a kind of finality, and I realized that my heart was beating so hard it felt like it was going to start snapping ribs. I was scared. I was crazily, deeply, incredibly, joyously, terrifyingly in love. I was on a death mission. Before my head simply exploded from so much emotion, I hit the large button that pressurized the air lock enough for the doors to open to the ocean outside. I really, really hoped that I would prove somewhat uncrushable, like Angel did. The door cracked open below me and I saw the first dark glint of frigid water.
”
”
James Patterson (Maximum Ride Five-Book Set)
“
It was like meeting someone out of your dreams, or fantasies, or a beloved character from a favorite book.
”
”
James Patterson (Sundays at Tiffany's)
“
The idea for Maximum Ride come from the earlier books of mine called When the Wind Blows and The Lake House, which also feature a character named Max who escapes from a quiet despicable school. Most of the similarities end there. Max and the other kids in Maximum Ride are not the same Max and kids featured in those two books. nor do Frannie and Kit play any part in Maximum Ride. I hope you enjoy the ride anyways.
”
”
James Patterson
“
If you're not reading - with your heart as well as your brain - you will be one stupid grown up. Even worst, you'll be missing out on one of the best experiences you can possibly have. Nowhere will you meet more interesting people than in books.
”
”
James Patterson (The Christmas Wedding)
“
Margo, they're afraid of us. They're afraid of everything.' And then I kept on talking without really thinking, until it turned into a chant:
They're afraid of change, and we must change.
They're afraid of the young, and we are the young.
They're afraid of music, and music is our life.
They're afraid of books, and knowledge, and ideas.
They're most afraid of our magic.
”
”
James Patterson (Witch & Wizard (Witch & Wizard, #1))
“
If you tell me, I will leave you alone," I said. "And if you don't tell me, I am going to grab the nearest ghostwritten James Patterson romance novel and I am going to follow you through this store reading it out loud until you relent. Would you prefer me to read from Daphne's Three Tender Months with Harold or Cindy and John's House of Everlasting Love? I guarantee, your sanity and your indie street cred won't last a chapter. And they are very, very short chapters."
Now I could see the fright beneath the defiance.
”
”
David Levithan (Dash & Lily's Book of Dares (Dash & Lily, #1))
“
I wasn't kidding about the flying-kids part. Or the talking-dog part.
Anyone who's up to speed on the Adventures of Amazing Max and Her Flying, Fun-Loving Cohorts, you can skip this next page or so. Those of you who picked up this book cold, even thought it's clearly part three of the series, well, get with the program, people! I can't take two days to get you caught up on everything! Here's the abbreviated version (which is pretty, I might add):
A bunch of mad scientists (mad crazy not mad angry- though a lot of them seem to have anger-management issues, especially around me) have been playing around with recombinant life-forms, where they graft different species' DNA together.
”
”
James Patterson (Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (Maximum Ride, #3))
“
Why should I tell you?" he asked, with no small amount of petulance.
"If you tell me, I will leave you alone," I said. "And if you don't tell me, I'm going to grab the nearest ghostwritten James Patterson romance novel and I am going to follow you through this store reading it out loud until you relent."
Now I could see the fright beneath the defiance.
”
”
Rachel Cohn (Dash & Lily's Book of Dares (Dash & Lily, #1))
“
The window on the right featured contemporary bestselling authors like Brad Meltzer, James Patterson, David Baldacci, Nelson DeMille, and others who make more money writing about what I do than I make doing what I do.
”
”
Nelson DeMille (The Book Case)
“
Kindle, isn’t it?” the waitress asked. “I got one for Christmas, and I love it. I’m reading my way through all of Jodi Picoult’s books.” “Oh, probably not all of them,” Wesley said. “Huh? Why not?” “She’s probably got another one done already. That’s all I meant.” “And James Patterson’s probably written one since he got up this morning!” she said, and went off chortling.
”
”
Stephen King (UR)
“
Sometimes the “them” strategy is just a narcotic to feed the beast in all of us.
”
”
Bill Clinton (The President is Missing: The political thriller of the decade (Bill Clinton & James Patterson stand-alone thrillers Book 1))
“
Quote from James Patterson's book "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas"
"Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends, and integrity. And you're keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls - family, health, friends, integrity - are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life.
”
”
James Patterson (Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas)
“
Sometimes I look at you and I just can't believe you're mine
”
”
James Patterson
“
I can close the book on this part of our history. I can start a new chapter, but it doesn't matter. because now, the magic is everywhere.
”
”
James Patterson
“
She stood and looked at James as if he was on clearance at Vanity, which was her favorite store at the moment.
”
”
Aaron M. Patterson (Airel: The Awakening (The Airel Saga: Book 1, Part 1))
“
Kindness. Respect. Compassion. Empathy. You never know how these simple, small acts can help someone turn their life around.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories (Heroes Among Us Book 3))
“
The whole flock is helping to raise her, with Total insisting on French lessons and Nudge making sure she doesn't look like a cave girl (even though we pretty much live in caves). But it's only Fang who spends as much time with her as I do, Fang who patiently teaches the fascinating facts his photographic brain remembers from all those fat books I shunned in school. Fang, because he's her father.
”
”
James Patterson (Maximum Ride Forever (Maximum Ride, #9))
“
Encouraging kids to read gives them tools to safely navigate the real world, and to protect themselves. Reading helps them think critically—and it gives them the opportunity to learn about themselves and others, to create empathy and compassion. – Lorrie Roussin
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
Sun Tzu said, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,
”
”
Bill Clinton (The President is Missing: The political thriller of the decade (Bill Clinton & James Patterson stand-alone thrillers Book 1))
“
Nowhere will you meet more interesting people than in books.
”
”
James Patterson
“
It was so cold outside that a lawyer would have his hands in his own pockets.
”
”
James Patterson (The Black Book (Billy Harney, #1))
“
Little books can mean big things, baby books are things that you probably might not know.
”
”
James Patterson (Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1))
“
Most people go out every day who wear a badge and they really try to do the best they can and try to help as many people as possible.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories (Heroes Among Us Book 3))
“
Using words to de-escalate a situation is always ideal. No cop wants a physical altercation.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories (Heroes Among Us Book 3))
“
Asking for help is empowering. It makes you stronger. More respected, not less.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories (Heroes Among Us Book 3))
“
She says you should give a book fifty pages. But if you’re over the age of fifty, take your age and subtract it from a hundred. So, if you’re seventy, give the book thirty pages. Life is too short to waste on reading a book you’re not enjoying.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
Libraries level the playing field. They’re free and open to the public. All are welcome. Our doors are open. Come in and learn to become your best self. Follow your dreams and reach your true potential. Let your reach exceed your grasp. Whatever book you want to read, it’s free on the honor system. It’s hard to imagine anywhere else in our society so devoted to the concept of everyone being completely equal.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
I guess when you’re a drama teacher, you’re used to memorizing long speeches.
”
”
James Patterson (I Totally Funniest: A Middle School Story (I Funny Book 3))
“
Be a first-rate version of yourself and not a second-rate version of someone else.
”
”
James Patterson (I Totally Funniest: A Middle School Story (I Funny Book 3))
“
If this guy ever had an unselfish thought, as my mama would say, it would die of loneliness.
”
”
Bill Clinton (The President is Missing: The political thriller of the decade (Bill Clinton & James Patterson stand-alone thrillers Book 1))
“
I don’t think people realize the fight that goes on in nurses’ hearts—sticking to a hospital’s legal policy versus acting on humanitarian impulses.
”
”
James Patterson (E.R. Nurses: True Stories from America's Greatest Unsung Heroes (Heroes Among Us Book 2))
“
Ninety percent of people want the direction of their life to change, but they forget they’re the ones driving the car. You have to turn the wheel.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk in My Combat Boots: True Stories from America's Bravest Warriors (Heroes Among Us Book 1))
“
When it comes to war, if you’re going to pick up a gun, you cannot have an imbalance of commitment. You have to be ready to go, ready to fight, and ready to die.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk in My Combat Boots: True Stories from America's Bravest Warriors (Heroes Among Us Book 1))
“
Life is too short to waste on reading a book you’re not enjoying.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
American violence mirrors that of my home country. And the laws here, much like where I was born, seem to favor criminals and not victims. Criminals get released very quickly.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories (Heroes Among Us Book 3))
“
It’s hard to explain to people the incredible emotional burden officers carry after enduring these types of incidents, especially when children are involved.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories (Heroes Among Us Book 3))
“
A Malinois is like a German shepherd on crack. There’s no chill mode.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories (Heroes Among Us Book 3))
“
life will deceive us with relative predictability for long periods until, at the moments when we begin to feel the most comfortable, it unfolds, reminding us how powerless we all are.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk in My Combat Boots: True Stories from America's Bravest Warriors (Heroes Among Us Book 1))
“
Being a police officer isn’t restricted to saving someone from physical injuries. Sometimes it’s about sitting down with people who desperately need to talk—and need someone to really listen
”
”
James Patterson (Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories (Heroes Among Us Book 3))
“
CHIEF LAMBIASE IS a frequent visitor to the store, and to justify these visits, he buys books. Because Lambiase doesn’t believe in wasting money, he reads the books, too. At first, he had mainly bought mass-market paperbacks—Jeffery Deaver and James Patterson (or whoever writes for James Patterson)—and then A.J. graduates him to trade paperbacks by Jo Nesbø and Elmore Leonard. Both authors are hits with Lambiase, so A.J. promotes him again to Walter Mosley and then Cormac McCarthy. A.J.’s most recent recommendation is Kate Atkinson’s Case Histories.
”
”
Gabrielle Zevin (The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry)
“
Congratulations. The fact that you’re reading this means you’ve taken one giant step closer to surviving till your next birthday. Yes, you, standing there leafing through these pages. Do not put this book down. I’m dead serious—your life could depend on it.
”
”
James Patterson (The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, #1))
“
had a sneaking suspicion that
”
”
James Patterson (The Black Book (Billy Harney, #1))
“
Take out the leader, and the rest of the pack panics.
”
”
Bill Clinton (The President is Missing: The political thriller of the decade (Bill Clinton & James Patterson stand-alone thrillers Book 1))
“
profanity-laden tirade that took some of the polish off her sophisticated veneer,
”
”
James Patterson (The Black Book (A Black Book Thriller 1))
“
Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.
”
”
James Patterson (I Funny: A Middle School Story)
“
were right. You could still be in the wrong
”
”
James Patterson (The Black Book (Billy Harney, #1))
“
#FUNNYHURRICANEKID.
”
”
James Patterson (I Totally Funniest: A Middle School Story (I Funny Book 3))
“
The bestselling author of all time, James Patterson.
”
”
James Patterson (I Totally Funniest: A Middle School Story (I Funny Book 3))
James Patterson (House of Robots (House of Robots Series Book 1))
“
physically impossible for pigs to look up at the sky, so they’ll never know when one of their pals is flying.
”
”
James Patterson (I Totally Funniest: A Middle School Story (I Funny Book 3))
“
Dear Reader, You’re about to experience a revolution in reading — BookShots.
”
”
James Patterson (Manhunt (Michael Bennett, #10.5))
“
approval from the Senate four years
”
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Bill Clinton (The President is Missing: The political thriller of the decade (Bill Clinton & James Patterson stand-alone thrillers Book 1))
“
That’s my defense mechanism—do the best job I can and move on.
”
”
James Patterson (E.R. Nurses: True Stories from America's Greatest Unsung Heroes (Heroes Among Us Book 2))
“
The time is going to pass no matter what you do.
”
”
James Patterson (E.R. Nurses: True Stories from America's Greatest Unsung Heroes (Heroes Among Us Book 2))
“
Whatever happens is going to happen. And when I see something bad, I won’t dwell on it or get emotional about it because there’s too much shit going on, and I have a job to do.
”
”
James Patterson (E.R. Nurses: True Stories from America's Greatest Unsung Heroes (Heroes Among Us Book 2))
“
Certain patients are just dicks. And I say that knowing that most of our patients are extremely sick.
”
”
James Patterson (E.R. Nurses: True Stories from America's Greatest Unsung Heroes (Heroes Among Us Book 2))
“
If you’re waiting, that’s a good thing. It’s when we all rush in and jump on you that you should worry.
”
”
James Patterson (E.R. Nurses: True Stories from America's Greatest Unsung Heroes (Heroes Among Us Book 2))
“
It’s okay to feel that loss. You can visit that place; you just can’t live there.
”
”
James Patterson (E.R. Nurses: True Stories from America's Greatest Unsung Heroes (Heroes Among Us Book 2))
“
the numbers of service members we’ve lost to suicide is far greater than the number of service members killed by the enemy.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk in My Combat Boots: True Stories from America's Bravest Warriors (Heroes Among Us Book 1))
“
They can’t comprehend what it means to live a life in the service of others.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk in My Combat Boots: True Stories from America's Bravest Warriors (Heroes Among Us Book 1))
“
Texas Representative Matt Krause compiles a sixteen-page list of 850 fiction and nonfiction books that he believes “make students feel discomfort.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
I’m excited about James Patterson’s new Alex Cross book.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
My favorite thing is helping people. Handing someone a book with the power to change their lives is magical because, oftentimes, it does.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
But walk into an independent bookshop, and there’s a particular intoxicating book scent. It’s definitely not available online.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
Look at PTSD as weight,” she says. “If you’re carrying, say, five pounds, you can fix that. If you’re carrying five hundred pounds, you’ll die.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories (Heroes Among Us Book 3))
“
Going into the unknown, being willing to die and leave everything behind—this is the job.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories (Heroes Among Us Book 3))
“
In America, racism is our oldest curse. But there are other divides—over religion, immigration, sexual identity. Sometimes the “them” strategy is just a narcotic to feed the beast in all of us.
”
”
Bill Clinton (The President is Missing: The political thriller of the decade (Bill Clinton & James Patterson stand-alone thrillers Book 1))
“
I could probably name my favorite books from each and every grade and I want kids to experience that same feeling, of realizing that books could teach me that the world isn’t always the way that people think or understand.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
we import K9s from Europe, typically German shepherds and Belgian Malinois dog breeds with working pedigrees. After a year of training as a patrol dog, they’re usually cross-trained in a specialty such as narcotics or explosives.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories (Heroes Among Us Book 3))
“
We start talking about current events. I ask him, “What’s the story about weapons of mass destruction?” “I wanted them.” “Did you get them?” “No.” “So why did you kind of lead everybody on that you had weapons of mass destruction?
”
”
James Patterson (Walk in My Combat Boots: True Stories from America's Bravest Warriors (Heroes Among Us Book 1))
“
None of the terrible things that happen are a surprise to God. He knows what the day will bring, and I know He will test me. My compassion, sympathy, and empathy are gifts from God, and knowing I’ve done my very best to do His work helps.
”
”
James Patterson (E.R. Nurses: True Stories from America's Greatest Unsung Heroes (Heroes Among Us Book 2))
“
Unlike more conventional talk therapy, where you constantly revisit and discuss a traumatic event, EMDR allows you to process the trauma in fewer sessions, gently move past it so the brain will no longer be reacting in a fight-or-flight response.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories (Heroes Among Us Book 3))
“
sobering statistics compiled by Literacy Inc., that 33 percent of high school graduates never pick up another book, and that 42 percent of college grads don’t either. Oh yeah, and apparently 80 percent of American families did not purchase a book this year.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
Books have deep connections. People are always looking for books on big life events—relationships, breakups, deaths, grief, getting married or what to expect when you’re pregnant—and there’s nothing better than recommending books that can have a meaningful and positive impact on someone’s life.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
Out of every hundred men they send me, eighty are nothing but targets. The next ten shouldn’t even be at the compound. Out of the remaining ten, nine are real fighters, and the last one will be a warrior. And we have to find the warrior because he’ll be the one who brings the others back alive.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories (Heroes Among Us Book 3))
“
One of the nice things about books as opposed to television and movies to some extent is it's not a passive entertainment. People really do get involved, and they do create, and they do have their own visions of what different characters look like and what should happen. It's great - it means their brains are working
”
”
James Patterson
“
A teacher expressed the feeling of many Americans: After Watergate, it's crazy to have trust in politicians. I'm totally cynical, skeptical. Whether it's a question of power or influence, it's who you know at all levels. Nixon said he was the sovereign! Can you believe that? I was indignant. Someone should have told him that this is a democracy, not a monarchy.32
”
”
James T. Patterson (Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945-1974 (Oxford History of the United States Book 10))
“
The habit of reading books is not yet on the brink of extinction. Not yet. This is in no small part due to an elite corps of frontline workers, people who are holding that line, and sometimes even turning the tide. I'm talking about the thousands of booksellers and librarians working long hours to keep reading alive and getting little recognition for all that they do.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
Encouraging kids to read gives them tools to safely navigate the real world, and to protect themselves. Reading helps them think critically—and it gives them the opportunity to learn about themselves and others, to create empathy and compassion. Students need to be able to see themselves in books, but also to be exposed to and experience somebody else’s life through books.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
The Graduate, an Oscar-winning movie that appeared in late 1967, dramatized these changes. It featured a young man (Dustin Hoffman) who was in no way a hippie, a user of drugs, or a political radical. But he seemed unconnected to traditional values. Alienated from many things, he felt no kinship with fraternity men at his university or with materialistic adults of the older generation.
”
”
James T. Patterson (Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945-1974 (Oxford History of the United States Book 10))
“
Participation in our democracy seems to be driven by the instant-gratification worlds of Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and the twenty-four-hour news cycle. We’re using modern technology to revert to primitive kinds of human relations. The media knows what sells—conflict and division. It’s also quick and easy. All too often anger works better than answers; resentment better than reason; emotion trumps evidence.
”
”
Bill Clinton (The President is Missing: The political thriller of the decade (Bill Clinton & James Patterson stand-alone thrillers Book 1))
“
What I was able to share with people was how I learned that we all need to serve something bigger than ourselves. And if we want to inspire, we need to make ourselves small, not large. Like mothers, for example. Moms can be exhausted and hungry, even injured, but they’re wiping our butts throughout the night. Her success, though, is also our success. If we can all be servant leaders, then our teams will thrive and prevail.
”
”
James Patterson (Walk in My Combat Boots: True Stories from America's Bravest Warriors (Heroes Among Us Book 1))
“
The student storms into the library, calling for me at the top of her lungs. “Ms. Roussin, you’ve got to come here!” What did I do? This is the same girl who came to me a few days ago, reluctantly looking for a book to read for class. I’d handed her All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. She stands in front of me, still worked up. “Ms. Roussin, this is the first book I’ve read that had me in it.” It just blew her away.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
Building literacy doesn’t even have to start with actual reading. I’ve seen little kids who insist on carrying around a Harry Potter book or a Paul Auster novel. Maybe they just like the colors on the cover. And that’s okay. The important part is that they are identifying as someone who totes around a big book. It doesn’t matter whether or not that child can truly read it. That child is loving that book. We can still celebrate it. It’s all a part of literacy development.
”
”
James Patterson (The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading)
“
Teachers lose credibility with students when they ignore the cultural trends & issues that interest them & instead design classroom reading instruction around books that are "good for you." There is a certain amount of disdain from teachers in regard to popular fiction for children because some of those books are mind candy, but I’d bet that some of those teachers go home & read escapist books like Shopaholic or a James Patterson thriller & never make a connection. Are we teaching books or teaching readers?
”
”
Donalyn Miller (The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child)
“
Truman charged that Republicans were "Wall Street reactionaries," "gluttons of privilege," "bloodsuckers," and "plunderers." GOP legislators in the 80th Congress, he said, were "tools of the most reactionary elements" who would "skim the cream from our natural resources to satisfy their own greed." Dismissing Dewey, "whose name rhymes with hooey," Truman said, "If you send another Republican Congress to Washington, you're a bigger bunch of suckers than I think you are." "Give 'em hell, Harry!" the people shouted back. "Pour it on!"59
”
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James T. Patterson (Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945-1974 (Oxford History of the United States Book 10))
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The first battle in Fallujah happens three months later, in April. Some Blackwater guys riding in an up-armored Chevy Suburban stop on a road by the bridge at the entrance to the gates of Fallujah when they’re approached by a group of kids selling gum, candy, soda, and fake Rolexes. A guy rolls down the window to buy some candy, and a kid drops a frag grenade into the Suburban. The burned, charred bodies of four Americans are dragged from the wreckage and strung up by the bridge. The insurgents declare an all-out war against the Americans in Iraq.
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James Patterson (Walk in My Combat Boots: True Stories from America's Bravest Warriors (Heroes Among Us Book 1))
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When you read books on your Kindle, the data about which phrases you highlight, which pages you turn, and whether you read straight through or skip around are all fed back into Amazon’s servers and can be used to indicate what books you might like next. When you log in after a day reading Kindle e-books at the beach, Amazon is able to subtly customize its site to appeal to what you’ve read: If you’ve spent a lot of time with the latest James Patterson, but only glanced at that new diet guide, you might see more commercial thrillers and fewer health books.
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Eli Pariser (The Filter Bubble)
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HYSTERICAL HISTORY Bumping into Vincent O’Neil makes me think about what Uncle Frankie said. I need new material for Boston, not Vincent’s stale and stinky fart jokes from The Big Book of Butt Bugles and Blampfs. So I keep my eyes open for new concepts to work out as I go to history class that afternoon. We’re supposed to give a presentation on our favorite president. I chose Millard Fillmore. Why? Because nobody else will. Plus, his name is funny. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get a whole bit out of him for Boston. I roll to the front of the class and prop a portrait of President Fillmore on the flip-chart easel. “Millard Fillmore was the thirteenth president of the United States. Born in January 1800, he was named after a duck. No, I’m sorry. That was his brother Mallard Fillmore. Millard Fillmore was the last member of the Whig Party to ever hold the office of president. Probably because they all wore wigs.
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James Patterson (I Even Funnier - FREE PREVIEW EDITION (The First 13 Chapters): A Middle School Story)
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want to get every kid in this country reading and loving it. No child left illiterate. Right now, there’s nowhere else—not TV, not the movies, not the internet—where kids can meet as many different kinds of people and begin to understand them and maybe learn to accept who they are as they can in books. In fact, there’s nothing kids can do in middle school or high school that’s more important than becoming a good reader. If our kids, your kids, don’t learn to read well, their choices in life will be seriously diminished. That’s just a fact. It’s science. If kids don’t know how to read, one day there’s a good chance they’ll get stuck in some job that they hate. And it’s not like they’re going to be in that job for a couple of months. That job is going to become their life. That’s if they can even get a job. So let’s get them reading. Teachers, principals, school boards, give our kids books that are relevant and inspiring and, God forbid, sometimes make them laugh. Kids should read as if their lives depend on it…because they do.
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James Patterson (James Patterson by James Patterson: The Stories of My Life)