I think humor is key [to a successful middle-grade novel]. Kids like to read for entertainment, and the best way to entertain kids is to make them laugh.

So if you want to find somebody to blame for the way i am, I guess you'd have to start with the public education system.

My advice to authors would be to try to do something original rather than to try to anticipate what the market is looking for.

hot pink looks cute on only janet which is MEEEEEEE!!!

Dear Aunt Loretta, Thank you so much for the awesome pants! How did you know I wanted that for Christmas? I love the way the pants look on my legs! All my friends will be so jealous that I have my very own pants. Thank you for making this the best Christmas ever! Sincerely, Greg

But the thing I’m finding out is some people don’t really appreciate it when you’r trying to be helpful.

I got to give mom credit for how she handled it.She didn't try to pry and get all the details. All she said was that I should try to do "the right thing" because it's our choices that make us who we are. I figure that's pretty decent advice. But I'm still not 100% sure what I'm going to do tomorrow.