Favorite Quote from Three Times Lucky

Having students choose a favorite quote or scene from the book allows them to express which parts of the story resonated with them on a personal level. In this way, students are making a text-to-self connection that demonstrates their understanding of the characters and their development or the themes of the novel. Students can share their storyboards afterwards and have a short discussion about what the quotes mean to them.

Some students may end up choosing the same quote, but have different perspectives. This is always interesting for students to see and can open up a discussion as to how not everyone can read the same lines in the same way based on their own perspectives and personal experiences.

Examples of Quotes from Three Times Lucky

“My heart leaped like the cheerleader I will never be.”

“We can't change the past, Soldier. We can only be grateful for the life of a new day, and move on.”

“I never forgive. I like revenge too much.”

“You what?" Dale yelped, looking like I'd handed him something dead. "You ain't writing during summer vacation, are you? I'm pretty sure that's against the rules.”

“Except for that, everything's going great. Well....there's been a murder and we're out of soup.”

“I'm Baptist. So far, Fast or Never is the only speeds I got with forgiving.”

“Dale can't tolerate other people throwing up. He gets what's known as the Synchronized Heaves.”

“Yes ma'am," I said, "Anna Celeste's party is Saturday, but I don't need a ride.... No ma'am. It's because Anna Celeste is my Sworn Enemy for Life and I'd rather go face-down in a plate of raw chicken entrails than go to her party. Plus I'm not invited....”

“As I watched them together, my earth found its axis and my stars found their sky.”

“Dale's family is like that. Let the Law come within twenty yards of them, and every male over the age of six--uncles, brother, father, cousins--starts lying his fool head off. Dale says it's genetic. Miss Lana says that's poppycock.”

“For me, it was a Gold Star day. I'd identified an enemy, and I'd made a life decision: I might come home tore up from fighting or late from being punished, but I'd never come home crying. So far, I ain't.”

“We got peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter and raisins, and a delicate peanut butter/peanut butter combination. These come crunchy or smooth, on Wonder Bread, hand-squished flat on the plate or not, as you prefer. The special today is our famous peanut butter and banana sandwich. It comes on Wonder Bread, cut diagonal on the plate, with crust or without. What can I start you with?”

“The Colonel says all attorneys should be named for blood sucking insects so we know up front who we are dealing with.”

“Dale can choose not to worry like he chooses not to wear socks.”

“We’re born over and over, day by day. When you feel lost, let the stars sing you to sleep. You’ll always wake up new.”

“You don't have a plan, do you? I knew it," he said, his eyes filling with tears. "I knew not to come to a ghost farm with you during a hurricane.”

“Is it true, then, Mayor?" Grandmother Miss Lacy Thornton warbled from the end of the counter. "Is Jesse Tatum officially dead?"

“They found Mr. Jesse in a boat?" I asked. "I'm wondering if maybe he just up and died. Maybe there ain't no murder. Like the fish weren't biting and he died of boredom. It happens. Boredom kills. I've had close brushes myself, during math.”

“Listen to me. We're born over and over, day by day. When you feel lost, let the stars sing you to sleep. You'll always wake up new.”

“Some people look like they were born on a clothes hanger. Not me. I look more like I was born in a dryer.”

“On hurricane days, when most women are filling their grocery carts with bread and milk, Miss Lana loads ours with candy, cakes, and tapered candles. If I die in the storm, I'll drift away in the arms of a sugar coma and candlelight, she always says.”

“If you like old cars detective, eastern North Carolina is perfect for you” he said smoothing his tie. “We have oodles of vintage vehicles around here, don’t we Colonel? In fact I like to think of them as one of poverty’s little perks.”