It is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading. Something that will stretch their imaginations- something that will help them make sense of their own lives and encourage them to reach out toward people whose lives are quite different from their own.

The difference between writing a story and simply relating past events is that a story, in order to be acceptable, must have shape and meaning. It is the old idea that art is the bringing of order out of chaos.

A great novel is a kind of conversion experience. We come away from it changed.

If you're a kid who is always on the outside hoping to be on the inside, you're watching a lot. You're trying to figure out how to become a normal person in a society that considers you weird.

Sitting in cold wet britches for an hour was no fun even in a magic kingdom.

Our fundamental task as human beings is to seek out connections-to exercise our imaginations.

My writing comes from ideas that make a sound in my heart.