Something will be offensive to someone in every book, so you've got to fight it.

With "Margaret," I remember clearly it was, you know because I did remember it clearly. I was young. I was young in terms of experience and what did I know about and I had an incredible memory from my own childhood. And so it never occurred to me to write for any other age group. And I thought I'm going to write a book and I'm going to tell the truth.

There's no book or play or series or anything that speaks to everyone, because then it wouldn't speak to anyone.

I didn't know I was really a writer until I read it in the New York Times. And then I thought, "Oh my god, maybe I can really do this". That was a review of "Margaret."

Do not let anyone discourage you. If they try: get determined, not depressed.

When I started to write, it was the '70s, and throughout that decade, we didn't have any problems with book challenges or censorship.

Little kids are amazing. They seem able to adjust to anything.