Chapters (68)
- Cover
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- One
- Two
- Chapter One
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Chapter Two
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Chapter Three
- Ten
- Eleven
- Chapter Four
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Chapter Five
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Chapter Six
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Chapter Seven
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Chapter Eight
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Chapter Nine
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Chapter Ten
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Chapter Eleven
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Chapter Twelve
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Chapter Thirteen
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Chapter Fourteen
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Chapter Fifteen
- The Following Summer
- About the Author
- About the Publisher
As she climbed onto her bike, Ali took a last look at the seals. She suspected they’d be leaving soon. Would they take the sick seal with them or abandon it? She was putting on her helmet when he opened his eyes again, almost as if he knew what she was thinking.
“Good luck,” she whispered. She didn’t want to think about him anymore; it was too sad. One of her mother’s favorite Maya quotes came to her: “I know for sure that love saves me and that it is here to save us all.” She couldn’t help the seal, but she could send him good thoughts. She closed her eyes, sent the seal all the love she could muster, then sped away to catch up with the others.
Twenty-Nine
Cassie treated them to hot chocolate and doughnuts. Half an hour later, the three were sprawled across some comfy chairs in one of the library’s reading rooms, waiting for the doughnuts to digest before they biked home.
Murray, who was thumbing through a Spider-Man graphic novel, glanced over at Ali. “I’m sorry I bugged you about my theory. I just think it’s cool how you can transform into anything.”
“That’s okay. I know you’re only trying to help me.” She was surprised to discover that it was okay, that she wasn’t just saying it to get along.
“Are you still practicing your powers a lot?” Cassie asked.
“Every night. My dad says it’s important for me to get good at it so I can control my powers. It’s the opposite at school. I do everything I can not to change.”
“Do you think you could turn into him?” Cassie pointed to the author’s picture on the book she was skimming.
Ali leaned over. “You want me to turn into C. S. Lewis? He’s, like, one of the most famous authors ever. And also: he’s dead.”
Cassie beamed. “Exactly! You won’t have to worry about him coming around the corner or anything. Plus, it would be funny to see you change into an old man. Come on. Try.”
“Right now?”
Murray grabbed the book from Cassie and passed it to Ali. “It’ll be funny!”
Cassie jumped up and went to the doorway that separated the reading room from the rest of the library. “I’ll keep watch.”
Ali knew what she was about to do was dangerous, that Digger would be furious if he found out. But Murray and Cassie were being so nice to her. She stared at the photograph. The author had a kind face. She concentrated hard and then closed her eyes. It took a couple of minutes until the warm feeling began, but this time, the change was almost instantaneous.
“Whoa,” murmured Murray.
“Amazing,” Cassie added.