They Were Like Two Magnets Who Couldn't

His Door Is Closed Behind Me. It's Staying Closed. He's Letting Me Go. I Think I've Made Myself Very Clear, But No Ones Stepping Forward To Stop Me. A Lot Of You Cared, Just Not Enough. And That...that Is What I Needed To Find Out. And I Did Find Out. And I'm Sorry.

I Felt I Had A Very Innocent Childhood And I Feel Privileged By That. But As An Adult, I Know That There Were People Who Didn't Have That. There Are A Lot Of Teens Who Haven't Had As Easy A Childhood As Me, And Having Literature That Explores These "darker" Parts Helps Relieve The Burden And Stress They May Be Feeling. As A Writer, There Is Often A Temptation To Draw Back When We Write For Teens - To Preserve Their Innocence. But The Reality Is, If Someone Has Already Had That Innocence Taken In Their Life, Then Not Writing About It Is Just Brushing It Under The Rug.

I Tried Getting My Dad To Buy Me A Beeper For My Birthday,” He Says, “but He Thinks Only Doctors And Drug Dealers Need Them.

A Lot Of Authors See Their Book Being Banned Or Challenged As A Badge Of Honor. But For Me, It's Nothing But Frustrating And Upsetting. I Hear From Readers That My Work Encouraged Them To Ask For Help Or Reach Out To Someone About The Situation They're In. When You Hear Stories Like That On A Daily Basis And Then Hear Adults Call For Your Work To Be Banned, It's Proof Of Why The Stigma Around These Issues Is So Dangerous.

A Flood Of Emotions Rushes Into Me. Pain And Anger. Sadness And Pity. But Most Surprising Of All, Hope.