Ann M. Martin Quotes & Sayings

Did you do something crazy, like cut it all off?" "Well," I said, "not all." "But it's real short, right?" "Yeah, but - " "Why did you do it? — Ann M. Martin

Love is unpredictable. It can be painful. It can be wonderful. — Ann M. Martin

I want her back" I said "I want HIM back"~Charlie — Ann M. Martin

It's awfully hard helping your parents grow up. But it has to be done. — Ann M. Martin

A Positive Attitude makes a Powerful Mind.
Mrs. Pike from The Babysitters' Club book Hello, Mallory — Ann M. Martin

It's great that there are so many different kinds of books for kids and adults to choose from. I think an eclectic reader is the best kind of reader to be, which would be why I was always so satisfied to hear that kids read the Baby-Sitters Club books and then went on and discovered other authors and other genres. — Ann M. Martin

I hoped that Mary Anne, Claudia, Stacey, and I - the Baby Sitters Club - would stay together for a long time. — Ann M. Martin

Thought for sure someone would screech or gasp or fall off the bed. — Ann M. Martin

You got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and latch on to the affirmative. Don't mess with Mr. In Between. — Ann M. Martin

Dawn be so rotten? — Ann M. Martin

I think reading is a gift. It was a gift that was given to me as a child by many people, and now as an adult and a writer, I'm trying to give a little of it back to others. It's one of the greatest pleasures I know. — Ann M. Martin

Dawn has two holes pierced in each ear. (Mary Anne and I will never get our ears pierced.) The — Ann M. Martin

Some days,' I say, 'I feel like I don't belong anywhere in that world. That world out there. 'I point to Grant. 'People walk down our street and people drive down it and people ride their bicycles down it and all of them, even the ones I know, could be from another planet. And I'm a visiting alien.'
And aliens don't belong anywhere,' Adam finishes for me, 'except in their own little corners of the universe.'
Right,' I say.
~pgs 57-58 Hattie and Adam on alienation — Ann M. Martin

Bug on the wall. — Ann M. Martin

The long-ago days - the days of Mother and Bone and the shed - have become fuzzy and have blended with images of Moon, of my travels, of other people and houses, of hiding places; a tangle of memories leading to Susan. I burrow into her side and listen to her heartbeat. With my eyes closed, I might be in the straw-filled wheelbarrow again, nestled against Mother, listening to the first heartbeat I knew. I open my eyes and tilt my head back to look at Susan's lined face. She smiles at me, and we sit pressed into each other, two old ladies. — Ann M. Martin

Pop once said it's a good thing we don't know what's around the corner. I didn't understand what he meant then, but I do now. It's better to wish than to know. — Ann M. Martin

An average person has an IQ of 100. An above-average person has an IQ of 120 to 140. A person with an IQ of 150 is considered a genius. Janine's IQ is 196. Sometimes — Ann M. Martin

They were just passing the Evanses' house, Rose making gruesome faces in case they were spying out their windows, when Abby felt someone take her elbow, and she turned to find Zander Burley, his arm now linked with hers. "Happy Valentine's Day," he said, "one day late." He withdrew his arm and loped ahead of Abby and Rose, along the sidewalk and across the lawn to his front door. Abby watched him, thinking that he moved very gracefully for a boy, and noticing that his jaw had grown squarer and his shoulders broader. "Abby has a boyfriend!" Rose chanted when Zander was out of earshot. "No, I don't. — Ann M. Martin

If Kristy wanted me to feel left out for some reason, I could do the same to her. — Ann M. Martin

Sure. Waffles are fine. How come you didn't ask me what I wanted?" "I'm asking you now." "They're fine," Janine said again. Sighing, she turned back to the computer. I stuck my tongue out at her and ran downstairs. "Waffles are fine!" I told Mimi. — Ann M. Martin

I am fairly certain that my independent, high-spirited grandmother must have had a childhood similar to Betsy Ray'sAs I read about the School Entertainment and ice cream socials, about ladies leaving calling cards and the milkman with his horse-drawn wagon, I felt that I was having an unexpected and welcome peek into Granny's childhood-a gift to me from Maud Hart Lovelace — Ann M. Martin

For now, I just want things all safe and familiar. My life may not be perfect, but it is what I have known. — Ann M. Martin

There's no use asking Mom and Dad to talk to Nana about her punishment. They won't stand up to her. They never do. This is why I decide I am not going to speak to Nana or Papa or my parents. What Leila and I did was wrong. But now I have been put in the middle of something else entirely. Something about Adam and the adults and things that happened before I was born, maybe even before Adam and Uncle Hayden and Mom were born.
~pgs 144-145; Hattie on adulthood — Ann M. Martin

Are you going to talk about boys?" Sarah laughed. "What boys?" "Any boys." "No. We're talking about what we want for Christmas." "I want a dog," said Rose, hurrying to Abby's side. "A sister," said Sarah. "Poetry books," said Abby. "You just want poetry books because Zander likes poetry," said Rose. — Ann M. Martin

trust you are prepared for it, both financially and phy - " "We're all set," I said, cutting Janine off. — Ann M. Martin

Because, you see, you only need one friend for a party. One is enough. Two is enough. Anything is enough.'
~pg 107; Adam on friendship — Ann M. Martin

I've discovered that in order to make big changes in the world, we have to begin at home
within ourselves — Ann M. Martin

I pick at what's left of the popcorn and think about the summer, the summer that was both awful and wonderful. I thank Adam, as I have thanked him almost every night since August, for showing me that it's possible to lift the corners of our universe. Adam told me about lifting the corners the second time I met him, but I had no idea what he meant. Now I think I do. It's all about changing what's handed to you, about poking around a little, lifting the corners, seeing what's underneath, poking that. Somethings things work out, sometimes they don't, but at least you're exploring. And life is always more interesting that way. — Ann M. Martin

I wonder how you say goodbye to someone forever? — Ann M. Martin

Mm-hm," Dawn said. "Um, I'm sorry." "Yeah. Right." I'm sorry, too, Mary Anne was what I was sort of hoping to hear. — Ann M. Martin

Dawn had not yet said anything nice. She was trying to be friendly, but something wasn't right. Did she think I looked terrible? Was she mad at me? — Ann M. Martin

Janine bit her lip. She was still holding Mimi's hand, patting it gently. "I don't think we're supposed to move her," she said, "but we should keep her warm. Let's cover her with her bathrobe and try to put her slippers on. Then I'll stay in here, and you go wait outside so you can show the paramedics where to come." "Okay," I replied. I got Mimi's robe and fuzzy slippers out of her closet. Janine put the slippers on while I covered Mimi. Then I ran outside and stood impatiently on our front stoop. — Ann M. Martin

Some people say that success equals money, but frankly, I don't think success is money at all ... Success is being the best at whatever you want to do well at. — Ann M. Martin

Olivia was moody. Moody wasn't a word with which she was very familiar, but if it meant that her moods swung back and forth for no reason at all, and that she felt crabby and wanted to be alone more often than she felt content and friendly, and that she was often tempted to slam her bedroom door - preferably in someone's face - well, then, moody described perfectly the way she'd been feeling lately. — Ann M. Martin

However, I knew Mimi would want me to play, so I agreed to. — Ann M. Martin

I glance at Mom. She looks pained. I know she doesn't care what I wear to lunch, but she doesn't want to contradict her mother. Actually, that's not quite true. Mom will go against Nana's wisheds where big enormous things are concerned, like who she marries and what kind of house she lives in. But when it comes to these smaller things- my appearance at lunch when Nana comes over- Mom often gives in. I do not understand this. I think these little things are supposed to be peace offerings, but for what? For running a boardinghouse or for something else, some adult thing I am not part of?
~pgs 20-21; Hattie on growing up and mothers — Ann M. Martin

If you're very serious about writing it's helpful to find an agent. It's becoming more and more competitive to have your manuscript even looked at by an editor. Many companies don't accept unsolicited manuscripts anymore, so they'll pay more attention to something that comes in through an agent. — Ann M. Martin

Mom says,'What are you going to do when it's time to go to college?' I choose not to think about that yet. That is years away. For now, I just watn things all safe and familiar. My life may not be perfect, but it is what I have known.
~pg 16; Hattie on change — Ann M. Martin

I believe you are one of the people that can lift the corners of the universe. — Ann M. Martin

One night last year when my father and I were eating supper at 6.17 p.m., I said to him, "Did you have a favourite?"
"A favourite what?" asked my father.
"A favourite foster mother."
"Yes, I did," said my father. "Her name was Hannah Pederson."
"That is very interesting," I told him, recalling Mrs Leibler's conversational tips, "because 'Hannah' is a kind of word called a palindrome. That means you can spell it the same way whether you start at the beginning or the end. My name is not a palindrome because if you spell it backwards it's E-S-O-R. But it does have a homonym."
My father said, "Don't get started on homonyms, Rose."
So I said, "Did you have any favourite foster brothers or sisters?"
"Yes," said my father after a moment.
"How interesting," I replied. "Did any of their names have homonyms? — Ann M. Martin

Cats definitely have their own opinions. — Ann M. Martin

You just said you had been thinking about it for awhile," Dawn cut in. "Thinking about it," I said. "But you know me - " "I thought I did." Dawn jammed some bean curd in her mouth. — Ann M. Martin

Oh, easy," said Janine. "It was George Herman. That's it. I won!" "Cheater!" I cried. "You looked! You must have looked!" "I did not," Janine retorted. "I just knew it." "Nerd!" Janine slammed the board shut and walked off in a huff. — Ann M. Martin

I looked at Andrew and at Nannie. I loved them and the rest of my family very much. I loved my friends too. For now that was enough love for me. — Ann M. Martin

Ermaline has entered the room noiselessly and is whispering to Nana. When she leaves, Nana and Papa start talking about friends of Mom's who are in the middle of a scandalous divorce. Mom and Dad keep glancing at Adam, and Nana keeps asking Mom and Dad questions, pulling their attention back to the conversation. I have seen this before. It's Nana's highly effective and very annoying way of not mentioning the elephant in the living room. But why does she have to think of Adam as an elephant? Why can't he just be their son?
~pgs 40-42; Hattie on adults — Ann M. Martin

A couple of pieces of advice for the kids who are serious about writing are: first of all, to read everything you can get your hands on so you can become familiar with different forms of writing: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, journalism. That's very important. And also keep a journal. Not so much, because it's good writing practice. Although it is, but more because it's a wonderful source of story starters. — Ann M. Martin

There's so many different kinds of rights to consider these days: computer, e-book, all sorts of things. Forget foreign rights and entertainment rights. There are so many things to consider and an agent is going to know how to wade through all that much better than you are. — Ann M. Martin

It was the kind of terrified look that reminds you that no matter how rational or grown up a person might seem, some part of him is absolutely sure - knows - that an evil other-world exists just outside of our regular, everyday world. And that although we don't expect that world to collide with our calm, predictable one ... well, really, at any moment that is exactly what might happen. — Ann M. Martin

Mom opened her mouth to say something, then closed it, hesitating. After a few more silent seconds, she said, "Just so you're prepared, dear - " I cringed. Whatever was coming didn't sound good. " - I want you to know that you're going to be scheduled for a series of tests with a new doctor in New York at the beginning of December." I groaned. "He's someone Uncle Eric heard about on a television program." "We're going to a doctor because Uncle Eric saw him on TV?" I exclaimed. "Honey, supposedly he's working miracles with diabetes. After Uncle Eric saw him, I found two articles about him in medical journals, and then Profiles magazine did a long interview with him. It was very impressive. He's getting a lot of attention right now." "Did Dr. Werner say we should go see him?" "No." "Dr. Frank?" "No." "Have you even discussed this with them?" "No. — Ann M. Martin

I love to read, and I don't believe that you have to finish one book before you start another.
Mallory Pike — Ann M. Martin

But she used to disagree with me on everything, just so she could pick a fight. — Ann M. Martin

Fight your battles with words, not fists — Ann M. Martin

Later, after Abby had lugged Fred back inside and was taking off his jacket, she heard a crinkling sound and reached into the pocket of her coat. Her hand closed around an envelope. She pulled it out and saw her name in neat printing. ABIGAIL. She waited until she was alone in her room to open it, and inside she found a card showing a girl and boy joyfully riding a giant bumblebee, the words Valentine, I'm abuzz over you trailing in the wake of the bee. She flipped the card open. Zander had written BEE MINE, ZANDER in the same neat handwriting. Abby frowned, then smiled, and added the card to the ones she'd received from Rose and Sarah the day before. She hadn't dared to give Zander a Valentine. — Ann M. Martin

Uncle Joe says they're running around like thirty-year-olds." Claudia looked confused. "Is that supposed to be young?" "To him," I replied. — Ann M. Martin

(I love Mary Anne dearly, but she was no help. She still thinks you score touchdowns in baseball.) — Ann M. Martin

She thought of Mama making dresses for her and Rose because handmade was cheaper than store bought, — Ann M. Martin

I really loved this book. I did for a school book report last year and I really got into it I just couldnt take my eyes of! You really absolutley need to read this book! — Ann M. Martin

When you take fright and add to it ignorance, you get hatred. That's a very unattractive equation. — Ann M. Martin