So as a seventh grader, no, you weren't friends with people you didn't like. But sometimes you also weren't friends with people you did like, which was complicated, and which didn't make any sense if you tried to explain it. Sometimes things just changed. That's where the sadness came in.

So as a seventh grader, no, you weren't friends with people you didn't like. But sometimes you also weren't friends with people you did like, which was complicated, and which didn't make any sense if you tried to explain it. Sometimes things just changed. That's where the sadness came in.

Yes, that man acted ugly," she told us in plain English. "But throwing more ugliness back at him ain't the answer.

Being an author of banned books is cool, I've decided.

I was just teasing," I say. "I myself don't like to eat plain butter, but hey, it's a free world.

I live in my own little world. But its ok, they know me here.

And books are such an empowering way to give voice to some of these kids who aren't yet ready to tell their story. Or don't know what their story is, or are trying to figure it out.