Writing Is Self Employment, So You Can

The Man That I Named The Giver Passed Along To The Boy Knowledge, History, Memories, Color, Pain, Laughter, Love, And Truth. Every Time You Place A Book In The Hands Of A Child, You Do The Same Thing. It Is Very Risky. But Each Time A Child Opens A Book, He Pushes Open The Gate That Separates Him From Elsewhere. It Gives Him Choices. It Gives Him Freedom. Those Are Magnificent, Wonderfully Unsafe Things. [from Her Newberry Award Acceptance Speech]

Gathering Blue' Was A Separate Book. I Wanted To Explore What A Society Might Become After A Catastrophic World Event. Only At The End Did I Realize I Could Make It Connect To 'the Giver.

I Don't Set Out To Transmit A Message. I Don't Write With A Political Point Of View. There Are No Religious Overtones. Looking Back At My Books, I Can Say, 'oh, Yes, It Is There.' But It's Not In My Mind When I Write.

Think Only On The Climb. Think On What You Control

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.