Too much sun after a Syracuse winter does strange things to your head, makes you feel strong, even if you aren't.

— Laurie Halse Anderson

Until then, we're going to keep making memories like this, moments when we're the only two people in the whole world. And when we get scared or lonely or confused, we'll pull out these memories and wrap them around us, and they'll make us feel safe. And strong.

— Laurie Halse Anderson

We have to acknowledge that adolescence is that time of transition where we begin to introduce to children that life isn't pretty, that there are difficult things, there are hard situations, it's not fair. Bad things happen to good people.

— Laurie Halse Anderson

We tilt our heads back and open wide. The snow drifts into our zombie mouths crawling with grease and curses and tobacco flakes and cavities and boyfriend/girlfriend juice, the stain of lies. For one moment we are not failed tests and broken condoms and cheating on essays; we are crayons and lunch boxes and swinging so high our sneakers punch holes in the clouds. For one breath everything feels better. Then it melts. The bus drivers rev their engines and the ice cloud shatters. Everyone shuffles forward. They don't know what just happened. They can't remember.

— Laurie Halse Anderson

When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time.

— Laurie Halse Anderson

Where did you live before you came here?" I asked. "The moon," he said smoothly. "We left because the place had no atmosphere.

— Laurie Halse Anderson

Why are you being so mean?"" Friends tell friends the truth.""yeah, but not to hurt, to help.

— Laurie Halse Anderson

Why are you being so mean?”“Friends tell friends the truth.”“Yeah, but not to hurt. To help.

— Laurie Halse Anderson

Why do you have such a crappy attitude about math?"" I don't. I have a crappy attitude about everything.

— Laurie Halse Anderson

Why not spend that time on art: painting, sculpting, charcoal, pastel, oils? Are words or numbers more important than images? Who decides this? Does algebra move you to tears? Can plural possessives express the feelings in your heart? If you don't learn art now, you will never learn to breathe!

— Laurie Halse Anderson