If no one speaks out for [young readers], if they don’t speak out for themselves, all they’ll get for required reading will be the most bland books available. Instead of finding the information they need at the library, instead of finding novels that illuminate life, they will find only those materials to which nobody could possibly object... In this age of censorship I mourn the loss of books that will never be written, I mourn the voices that will be silenced — writers’ voices, teachers’ voices, students’ voices — and all because of fear.

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

[When I was a kid] I was a surgeon, amputating legs and arms of my paper dolls. And I had a little board with little tacks that I would tack them down to do this.

I don't necessarily want to talk about a book that I read. Even when I love it.

My insides still turn over when he looks at me that certain way.

That's my anxiety dream. I go to the library and all the books on my subject are out.

I try to create new characters in each book I write. That's what makes writing fun and interesting for me.