Leora Stangler

“Aru knew because she'd dealt with it every day in school, that flare of not knowing where you belonged. That craving to be seen and go unnoticed at the same time.”
― Roshani Chokshi, Aru Shah and the End of Time: The Graphic Novel

“Now, how do you think this door
works ... ?”
Brynne took one look at it and kicked it open.
“Wait ... that’s it?” said Aru. “I thought there’d be more to it! Like in Lord
of the Rings, where there’s a riddle door with the message ‘speak friend and enter.’
Except I can’t remember what friend is in Elvish.”
Brynne rolled her eyes, but her smile was warm. She stepped through first.
Aiden held open the door for Aru. As she walked past him, he said, “It’s
mellon, by the way.”
“Nerd.”
― Roshani Chokshi, Aru Shah and the Song of Death

“HEY!” it shouted. “WATCH IT!”
“You can talk?” she asked, startled.
“No,” said the crab bitterly. “This is all in your head. Of course I can talk.”

“Sorry,” she mumbled. “Still getting used to this whole talking-to-
underwater-animals thing.”

“Hmpf.”
“So ... can you sing, too?”
The crab went utterly still. “Why. Does. Everyone. Ask. Me. That?” It
turned around and snapped its pincers sharply. “Did you also expect me to be
bright red and have a Jamaican accent? Because if so, I am not sorry to
disappoint! Just because my brother went Hollywood doesn’t mean that I sing
and dance, too!” The crab scuttled ahead, muttering something that sounded a
lot like Mother wouldn’t understand.”
― Roshani Chokshi, Aru Shah and the Song of Death

“Heroines usually are the Kingdom of Death's worst nightmares. They're always barging in, waving scraps of metal around, and demanding things. No manners whatsoever."
"Excuse you!" said Aru. "What about heroes! I bet they're just as bad as heroines." "
It's a compliment! Heroes rarely have the guts to demand things. Usually they just sulk until a magical sidekick feels bad for them and does all the work while they get all the credit.”
― Roshani Chokshi, Aru Shah and the End of Time: The Graphic Novel