A lot of people worry much too much about what their children are reading... If a child picks up a book and reads something she has a question about, if she can go to her parents, great. Or else they will read right over it. It won't mean a thing. They are very good, I think, at monitoring what makes them feel uncomfortable. If something makes them feel uncomfortable they will put it down.

I always had stories inside my head and one day I just decided to start writing them down. I didn't actually decide.

You think everything can be magically cured with vitamins?” “Everything but us.

"Margaret" was just my truth. It was what I knew to be true about sixth grade.

My husband says I have too much imagination, but I don't think a writer can have too much imagination!

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.

Why are we acting as if we're angry. Are we angry?