From my experience, forgiving is the only way to survive.

To preach abstinence, I think, is absolutely not the right message to give to kids.

My dad has always just had a lot of faith in me as an artist and as a person, and he doesn't really dispense with a lot of advice when it comes to the music. He's taught me a lot over the years, but when I was taking on this project he's really hands-off about that. He just appreciates what I've done and is very supportive, and of course really proud.

When you say you're 40, you can't call yourself an ingenue any more.

My parents always raised us with the idea of having college in mind. You sort of need a college education. It's part of life. It's something that you do - like going to your prom.

It's the universal feeling that we all are alone - that we're all different. I think the movie's one resounding theme is that everybody feels the same, and we're all alone together. Some people come up to me on the street and thank me for helping them get through their teen years.

I think once you sort of cross over and you realize what books can be - and if they mean something to you - there's just no stopping you.