From Laurie Halse Anderson's Printz Honor Acceptance Speech
...This leads me to why I write for teenagers. I'm pissed. I'm angry. I'm enraged. I wish I could be a sweet and cuddly author, but that's not possible. Inside, I'm 15 years old, and I'm mad as hell. I'm angry because I can see the world through teenage eyes and through grown-up eyes, and I know it's not fair. The lies, the injustice, and the hypocrisy we force-feed our teenagers makes me sick.
I love teenagers because they are honest. I love teenagers because they are raw and passionate. They think in black and white and are willing to go to extremes to defend their beliefs. I love teenagers because they are artistic. They are risk-takers. They are shape-shifters, trying on new skins, new personalities, new dreams. I love teenagers because they challenge me, and because they frustrate me. They give me hope. They give me nightmares. They are our children, and they deserve the best books we can write. I wrote Speak for these wonderful, maddening, beautiful creatures. But I'm glad you liked it, too.
I love teenagers because they are honest. I love teenagers because they are raw and passionate. They think in black and white and are willing to go to extremes to defend their beliefs. I love teenagers because they are artistic. They are risk-takers. They are shape-shifters, trying on new skins, new personalities, new dreams. I love teenagers because they challenge me, and because they frustrate me. They give me hope. They give me nightmares. They are our children, and they deserve the best books we can write. I wrote Speak for these wonderful, maddening, beautiful creatures. But I'm glad you liked it, too.