I don't think children's inner feelings have changed. They still want a mother and father in the very same house; they want places to play.

The humiliation that Jane had felt turned to something else--grief perhaps, or regret. Regret that she had not known how to act with a boy, regret that she had not been wiser.

Ramona stepped back into her closet, slid the door shut, pressed an imaginary button, and when her imaginary elevator had made its imaginary descent, stepped out onto the real first floor and raced a real problem. Her mother and father were leaving for Parents' Night.

I had a very wise mother. She always kept books that were my grade level in our house.

In seventh grade...I found a place on the [library]shelf where my book would be if I ever wrote a book, which I doubted.

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

Children want to do what grownups do.