Writing Is Hard Work, And Fun, And

I Believe Without A Single Shadow Of A Doubt That It Is Necessary For Young People To Learn To Make Choices. Learning To Make Right Choices Is The Only Way They Will Survive In An Increasingly Frightening World.

But Then Everyone Would Be Burdened And Pained. They Don't Want That. And That's The Real Reason The Receiver Is So Vital To Them, And So Honored. They Selected Me--and You-to Lift That Burden From Themselves.

Ellen Had Said That Her Mother Was Afraid Of The Ocean, That It Was Too Cold And Too Big. The Sky Was, Too, Thought Annemarie. The Whole World Was: Too Cold, Too Big. And Too Cruel.

Because Of Fear, They Made Shelter And Found Food And Grew Things. For The Same Reason, Weapons Were Stored, Waiting.

Early On I Came To Realize Something, And It Came From The Mail I Received From Kids. That Is, Kids At That Pivotal Age, 12, 13 Or 14, They're Still Deeply Affected By What They Read, Some Are Changed By What They Read, Books Can Change The Way They Feel About The World In General. I Don't Think That's True Of Adults As Much.