"All the husbands were hiding, and Madeline was standing this close to him, poking her finger into his chest like this, not giving an inch."
"It didn’t help that Renata’s older son Jackson was famous at school for winning chess tournaments, while Madeline’s son Fred was famous for being the only student in the history of Pirriwee Public brave enough to climb the giant Moreton Bay Fig tree and then leap the impossible distance onto the roo"
"“How did you and Madeline meet?” she asked to make conversation. Ed brightened. It was obviously a story he liked to tell."
"Jane saw that Madeline’s feelings about Jane’s baking were similar to Jane’s feelings about Madeline’s accessories: confused admiration for an exotic behavior."
"“Were you talking about Ziggy?” said Chloe chattily to Samantha. “He was crying today because Oliver’s dad said he had to stay far, far away from Ziggy because Ziggy is a bully.” “Oh for God’s sake,” said Madeline. “Oliver’s daddy is a bully. You should see him at the PTA meetings.” “So I punched Ol"
"She swung the lightsaber so enthusiastically over her head that it clanged against the hanging light and sent it swinging back and forth."
"She would play some nice soothing Plants vs. Zombies. It was important to keep her skills up-to-date."