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Gordon Korman

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Famous Gordon Korman Quotes

“Trevor and his father watched as two mortal enemies from the deadliest conflict in human history shared a reunion as joyful as one between long-lost brothers.... None of those people would have ever been born if GG had done his duty and killed this man so many years ago. A snap decision, a moment of mercy, and all those lives suddenly became possible. It would not bring back Renee's family, but it was a miracle just the same.”

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Book:War Stories
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“The rage Jacob experienced was something new. He'd known fear and adrenaline in battle, but this was sheer unadulterated hatred. This was not the soldier who'd had killed Renee's family, but he was one of them. And he would do. Just a moment before Jacob had been lost in despair. Yet as his misery morphed into anger he felt better because now he had purpose and the purpose was vengeance. This enemy was going to pay for madam and the children and for Freddy and Leeland and all the others, too. He stared down the rifle barrel and saw... himself. Not Jacob Firestone, but pale blue eyes that reminded him very much of the teenage boy he faced in the mirror every day. In another life they could have been 12th-graders together swapping chemistry notes and talking about girls. He felt his finger loosening on the trigger. No, he exhorted himself. You walked away from an enemy in this orchard once before and look what happened. You can't let this one go. But when Jacob sighted down at the boy he beheld no menace. Only terror. There had been so much death and suffering already. What could possibly be gained by killing this poor, scared kid in the aftermath of a battle that was already over? Jacob lowered his rifle. "Get out of here, High School. Beat it!" And when the stunned boy scrambled up, gawked at him in disbelief and ran off, Jacob felt reborn.”

WarCompassionMercyForgivness
Book:War Stories
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“You know what punk is? a bunch of no-talent guys who really, really want to be in a band. Nobody reads music, nobody plays the mandolin, and you're too dumb to write songs about mythology or Middle-earth. So what's your style? Three chords, cranked out fast and loud and distorted because your instruments are crap and you can't play them worth a damn. And you scream your lungs out to cover up the fact that you can't sing. It should suck, but here's the thing - it doesn't. Rock and roll can be so full of itself, but not this. It's simple and angry and raw.”

Music
Book:Born to Rock
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“Amy turned to Nellie. "Can you create a diversion to draw the clerk outside?" The au pair was wary. "What kind of diversion?" "You could pretend to be lost," Dan proposed. "The guy comes out to give you directions, and we slip inside." "That's the most sexist idea I've ever heard," Nellie said harshly. "I'm female, so I have to be clueless. He's male, so he's got a great sense of direction." "Maybe you're from out of town," Dan suggested. "Wait–you are from out of town." Nellie stashed their bags under a bench and set Saladin on the seat with a stern "You're the watchcat. Anybody touches those bags, unleash your inner tiger." The Egyptian Mau surveyed the street uncertainly. "Mrrp." Nellie sighed. "Lucky for us there's no one around. Okay, I'm going in there. Be ready." The clerk said something to her–probably May I help you? She smiled apologetically. "I don't speak Italian." "Ah–you are American." His accent was heavy, but he seemed eager to please. "I will assist you." He took in her black nail polish and nose ring. "Punk, perhaps, is your enjoyment?" "More like a punk/reggae fusion," Nellie replied thoughtfully. "With a country feel. And operatic vocals." The clerk stared in perplexity. Nellie began to tour the aisles, pulling out CDs left and right. "Ah–Artic Monkeys–that's what I'm talking about. And some Bad Brains–from the eighties. Foo Fighters–I'll need a couple from those guys. And don't forget Linkin Park..." He watched in awe as she stacked up an enormous armload of music. "There," she finished, slapping Frank Zappa's Greatest Hits on top of the pile. "That should do for a start." "You are a music lover," said the wide-eyed cashier. "No, I'm a kleptomaniac." And she dashed out the door.”

MusicAmy CahillNellie GomezSaladinThe39cluesDan CahillDiversionsKleptomaniacs
Book:One False Note
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“Sugar maple!" Mary-Todd Holt knelt over her husband. "Are you all right?" Eisenhower sat up, and egg-size lump blooming on his crown. "Of course I'm all right!" he managed, his words slurred. "You think a little insect can stop me?" Reagan was unconvinced. "I don't know, Dad. She brained you with a baseball bat!" "Hockey stick," Dan corrected. "Those could be your last words, brat–”

HumorThreatsDanReaganCahillEisenhowerThe39cluesHoltMary Todd
Book:One False Note
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“I think you're going to like these," she said, placing the stack on the table. "The whole class spent Monday and Tuesday painting them up." Raymond and Sean lifted up the top poster and stared. ARSE PRESENTS SUPER HALLOWEEN PARTY FOOD, DRINKS, GREAT MUSIC HALLOWEEN TRAMPOLINE COSTUME CONTEST FOR THE MYSTERY PRIZE DON'T MISS IT! She smiled proudly. "What do you think?" "Nice," said Sean, wondering why Raymond had suddenly gone so silent and so pale. Finally Raymond found his voice. "But Ashly, why does it say" —he pointed to the top line— "that?" "That? That's us. Our initials—Ashly, Raymond, Sean, and Eckerman—I couldn't remember his first name." "I get it," said Sean. Raymond was positively white. "The other kids who worked on them—they didn't—say anything about the posters? The wording maybe?" "The whole class really liked them," said Ashley. "I think everyone's favorite part was the initials thing. They thought it was clever." Raymond looked up at the ceiling. "Oh, it was.”

HumorCleverInitialsPostersArt ClassUnfortunate Acronym
Book:A Semester in the Life of a Garbage Bag
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“Everybody hates something,” I retort. “I don’t like lima beans—am I the Grinch too?” “It’s not just what you hate; it’s why you hate it,” Mateo replies seriously. “Indiana Jones hates snakes because he’s afraid of them. Superman hates kryptonite because it’s his weakness. The Wicked Witch of the West hates water because it makes her melt. But Mr. Kermit and the Grinch are both haters for the same reason—noise.”

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Book:The Unteachables
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