The Evolution of Claire Quotes

“I realized a long time ago that in order to create real change for animals–from domestic pets to wildlife to farm animals–you need to have a lot of money, or a lot of power. Laws that could–and should–protect animals more aren’t being championed the way they should be. All it takes is one person, determined to rise, to get enough power to give a voice to the voiceless.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“I am built to run. Not away, but forward. And running forward means sometimes leaving things–people–behind.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“It’s her and it’s me and there’s nothing else. Dinosaur and human, both reaching across the eons, desperate for some kind of connection.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“Evolution is what the beginning and the end have in common. You lose sight of that and none of this will matter, because we’ll be the ones going extinct.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“The light in Mr. Masrani’s eyes deepens. This is where he gets his joy, I realize as I turn back to the grasslands. This place, it’s as much of a haven for him as it is for the dinosaurs. And being able to share your greatest joy with people who appreciate it…that’s a rare gift, isn’t it?”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“It’s one of those things you compare notes on with other people: Where were you when Masrani announced Jurassic World?”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“She owns half of the contents of a Sephora store and she’ll go to war for you, using her wits, her words, and her fists. And she’ll win without breaking a nail, because she’s the kind of strong that people underestimate.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“Sheer human hubris mixed with our desire to know, our thirst to see, and our greed to exploit brought them back here—and where does that leave us? What does that make us? God? Predator? Or prey?”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“If there’s one thing I am good at, it’s surviving. I see now that we have that in common, them and me. I’m still standing despite everything, and they returned from extinction.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“Typical gross double standard. I can feel the resignation in the girls next to me—we’ve all seen it before. Like when a guy hits on you and he won’t stop until you tell him you have a boyfriend. Only then, when you’ve established that you’re some other guy’s property, will he actually respect your space. When you belong to yourself, he won’t. The thing guys like Wyatt don’t understand is that we always belong to ourselves, in a relationship and out of it. And the right person knows that.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“I don’t know what I’ve learned from this,” I say dully. “I think you do,” Dr. Wu says. “You’ve learned which kind of mistakes are unacceptable. What you do with that knowledge…well, that’s up to you, isn’t it?” “What would you do with it?” I ask. “Knowledge is power, Claire. It’s not just a quaint adage. It’s the truth. You have been given a unique perspective on this place. So will you take advantage of that? Or will you run from it?” “You make it sound like it’s an opportunity,” I say. “It is,” Dr. Wu says. “An opportunity born out of a tragic mistake. Ask yourself, what would it be like to be the person making the decisions? Making sure the mistakes made this first summer you spent here never happen again? You could leave, live a boring little life, or you could stay and be part of something truly revolutionary. And someday, if you work hard enough, you might climb high enough to be in charge of it all.” My breath hitches; the idea soars inside me, and it’s like finding a key to something I didn’t know was locked up. Me…in charge of the park. Making sure everyone is safe. Making sure tragedies like Izzie’s and Justin’s deaths never happen again. Being in complete control. It’s a dazzling thought…a great gift Dr. Wu has given me. Something to distract me, something for me to fix, and a solution—all in one neat ambition.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“How are you doing, Claire?” Dr. Wu asks, and the question startles me. I thought that he’d be the one person who wouldn’t force me to answer that. But when I look into his eyes, I don’t see pity. I see understanding. Recognition. Dr. Wu was there when it all started with Dr. Hammond. He was there that night everything went wrong. He must have lost colleagues. This place has taken from him, too. But he has stayed. And suddenly, all I can do is ask why. I blurt it out in a rush, and he looks at me for a moment, quietly, with a patience he’s never shown before. “The island takes, yes. But it gives, too. That is nature, Claire. That is life.” “So you just…deal?” I ask. His mouth twitches into a smile. “You move forward. Step by step. Some days it is hard. But the more days you put behind you, the easier it gets. The more you learn about what it is to have a calling. To do work that is more than just you or your colleagues.” “And it’s worth it? The loss? The consequences?” “There’s always risk in working with predators,” Dr. Wu says. “Not only dinosaurs. Think of the big cats that have attacked trainers. They are always only so tame. But part of this island operates like a wildlife refuge. And certain dangers come with that. We take precautions. We have protocols and weaponry and drills. But sometimes mistakes happen. That is what it means to be human.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“How are you doing, Claire?” Dr. Wu asks, and the question startles me. I thought that he’d be the one person who wouldn’t force me to answer that. But when I look into his eyes, I don’t see pity. I see understanding. Recognition. Dr. Wu was there when it all started with Dr. Hammond. He was there that night everything went wrong. He must have lost colleagues. This place has taken from him, too.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“It’s a scent masker,” she explains. “We’ll be safe where we are, but it’s an extra precaution I like to take. Not only do you smell like a human, which means food, but you’ve been helping me load goat meat, which is her favorite. Dr. Wu’s team whipped this up for the trainers and vets a while back. It makes your scent blend into the other scents of the jungle so it’s harder for them to pinpoint it. It’s not perfect, but it’s a useful tool.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“Dr. Wu sighs, shooting a disapproving look at Mr. Masrani. “Tell your intern director to stop taking my interns!” he says. “Oh, so now you like having the interns around,” Mr. Masrani says, needling Dr. Wu. I get the idea he likes to do that. “They have performed adequately,” Dr. Wu acknowledges, and Mr. Masrani chuckles. “You’re too hard on them, Doctor!” “It gives them something to strive for,” Dr. Wu says dryly. “You want to be the best, don’t you, Claire?” “I do,” I say. And I mean it.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“It is,” Dr. Wu acknowledges. “But a temporary solution has been found in the meantime. And the science will persist until a permanent one is discovered.” There’s something so balanced about Dr. Wu’s words…and his world. He is in control, ruler of this tremendous domain of science and steel, keeper of the kind of knowledge and talent and brilliance most people can’t even dream of.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“Today, I will be performing a procedure that involves using a microneedle to pierce the shell and the sac within.” He holds up a silver syringe with a long needle so fine I have to squint to make it out, even though he’s only a few feet away. “We do this in order to inject a cocktail of antibiotics and steroids directly into the developing embryo.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“Much of our work is focused on preparing for the opening of the park,” Dr. Wu replies—the vaguest possible answer. He must notice Tanya’s disappointed look, because he sighs and relents a little. “Right now, my personal team is focused on building the necessary DNA strands to acclimate a Mosasaurus to the changes in the ocean since the Maastrichtian Age.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“Key word being minor.” Dr. Wu waves this away like it’s an insult. “I’ll take the girl who talked about the changing environment and O2 levels. And the redhead has some foresight, at least, so I’ll take her, too. I suppose these interns might be better than the train-wreck first batch.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“Um, aesthetics?” Justin asks, sounding nervous to be put on the spot. “I know that some of the dinosaurs—what we think they looked like isn’t totally accurate. Certain fossils suggest that some even had feathers, right? Some fiddling with the DNA is necessary to bring them more in line with what we’ve always been taught they look like?”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“Did you just insult Tanya and try to pit me against her by basically implying I’m better because I don’t dye my hair?” I demand. I look to the other girls, whose eyes are dancing. I feel strong with Ronnie and Tanya by my side. “Did this guy just ‘you’re not like other girls’ me?” “I think he did,” Tanya says, practically shaking with suppressed laughter. Wyatt shifts in his seat. “I just gave my opinion. Some helpful advice.” “News flash, Wyatt,” Ronnie says. “Your opinion sucks. And no one needs your advice.” “You do realize we don’t do our hair for you or any guy?” Tanya asks, an edge to her voice. “We don’t wear clothes or makeup for you. I do my hair because it makes me feel awesome and like a magical freaking mermaid. One who lures sailors into the sea and eats them.” She smiles, wicked, challenging, and so, so cool, still. “I couldn’t care less what you think.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“Even Mr. Masrani’s announcement of his plans to open a park had been shrouded in mystery. The man had a flair for drama. It started when packages containing amber-handled archaeological tools—the kind that paleontologists use to dig up bones—began arriving. At first, it was journalists, social media influencers, actors, pop stars, the leading professors and minds of the world. Then, as the buzz began to start, the tools began arriving at random people’s doorsteps across the world. Everyone starting talking about it because it was so weird—and the selection of people who got the tools was so broad and varied. The tools came with no note, just a simple card that had the profile of a T. rex skeleton stamped upon it. Two more packages arrived for the lucky recipients over the next few weeks. It became this status thing to post about them. Everyone was trying to trace the company that sent them, but no one could figure it out. The second package contained a compass; carved on the back was that same T. rex stamp. When the third and final package arrived, it caused a sensation. Each person’s box had three clues—a jagged tooth, a curled piece of parchment with the sketch of a gate in spidery ink, and an old-fashioned-looking key, one clearly not made to unlock anything. The speculation this caused throughout the world was unparalleled. What did these objects mean? Did they relate to each other? Was this just some elaborate prank? The first person to discover how to activate the boxes was a farmer’s son in Bolivia. After he disassembled the wooden box the trinkets were sent in, he noticed a strange indentation in the top of the lid and placed his key inside. Once he posted his discovery on YouTube, people across the globe were inserting their key in the notch, activating a hidden hologram chip embedded in the key’s handle. This beamed a message. Two silver words. One date. They’re coming. May 30, 2005 By the time Mr. Masrani held his press conference the next day, the entire world was buzzing about the possibility of a new park and a chance to get close to the dinosaurs. Both of the islands had been restricted for so long, it was the only thing anyone could talk about. It’s one of those things you compare notes on with other people: Where were you when Masrani announced Jurassic World?”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“Driven is what people call girls like me to our faces. Bossy is what people call girls like me behind our backs. Like it’s a bad thing. Someday, they won’t be able to say it’s like a bad thing. Because someday, I’ll be the boss.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“Now I have a half-unpacked apartment and an empty fridge and scars in places my hands can’t reach.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“It’s the impossible fantasy and the wild frontier of scientific innovation. It’s the chance to re-create the past and forge it into the future…to experience the very start of something enormous–the beginning of a new cycle of evolution itself.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Evolution of Claire

“Is it mostly older dinosaurs here? Do the younger ones stay on Sorna until they’re ready to come here?” I ask. “We actually have quite a few young dinosaurs,” Bertie says, and it doesn’t escape my notice that she sidesteps my question about Isla Sorna, which somehow seems even more mysterious than Isla Nublar. I wonder if it’ll ever be open to the public—probably not. I know it was the place where Dr. Hammond raised his first dinosaurs, but the real question is: What goes on there now that Mr. Masrani owns it? Is it just the place to raise the dinosaurs? Or is it more?”
― Random House, The Evolution of Claire