The man that I named the Giver passed along to the boy knowledge, history, memories, color, pain, laughter, love, and truth. Every time you place a book in the hands of a child, you do the same thing. It is very risky. But each time a child opens a book, he pushes open the gate that separates him from Elsewhere. It gives him choices. It gives him freedom. Those are magnificent, wonderfully unsafe things. [from her Newberry Award acceptance speech]

I left home at the correct time but when I was riding along near the hatchery, the crew was separating some salmon, I guess I just got distraught, watching them.

He wept, and it felt as if the tears were cleansing him, as if his body needed to empty itself.

Making lists of reasons was sometimes a good way to figure things out.

You will fail. Then they will kill you." - Vandara to Kira, following Kira's trial.

I'm not terribly conversant with children's literature in general. I tend to read books for adults, being an adult.

Once she read a book but found it distasteful because it contained adjectives.