They take away your shoelaces and your belt so you can’t kill yourself no matter how bad it is. I guess making you live is part of the punishment.

Books transmit values. They explore our common humanity. What is the message when some children are not represented in those books?

The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help.

As a child I wanted to be a professional athlete or lawyer.

I admired the work ethic of the cowboys I read about. The idea of these young people taking on this much responsibility was impressive. I would like modern readers to have an appreciation of this.

New York is my favorite city.

As a kid I didn't see black cowboys on the screen. What that said to me was that there were things I couldn't do or be because of my color. What we see others like us do gives us permission to expand our own horizons.