I have lovely memories of Los Angeles in the 1930s. I came down to live with my mother's cousin and they invited me to come and go to junior college for a year.

I read my books aloud before they were published.

Don't stop now. Go ahead! Be readers all of your lives. And don't forget, librarians and teachers can help you find the right books to read.

I was a very observant child. The boys in my books are based on boys in my neighborhood growing up.

My favorite books are a constantly changing list, but one favorite has remained constant: the dictionary. Is the word I want to use spelled practice or practise? The dictionary knows. The dictionary also slows down my writing because it is such interesting reading that I am distracted.

Quite often somebody will say, What year do your books take place? and the only answer I can give is, In childhood.

The key to writing successful YA is to keep the adults out of the story as much as possible.