He made me realize that hard work--that the act of finishing, of completing, of accomplishing a task--is joyous

I was studying the sky like I was an astronomer, except it was daytime and I didn't have a telescope, so I was just an idiot.

I know a lot about being white - because I have to, I live in the white world. A white person doesn't live in the Indian world. I have to be white every day.

The ordinary can be like medicine.

I didn't know what to say to her. What do you say to people when they ask how it feels to lose everything? When every planet in your solar system has exploded?

I've learned that the worst thing a parent can do is ignore their children

I thought I’d been condescended to as an Indian - that was nothing compared to the condescension for writing Y.A.