It's easier to floss with barbed wire than admit you like someone in middle school. Laurie Halse Anderson More Quotes by Laurie Halse Anderson More Quotes From Laurie Halse Anderson Kids are mostly very resilient. Laurie Halse Anderson resilient kids I am super proud of being an American, but we fail our veterans every day. Laurie Halse Anderson veteran our-veterans proud We've fallen down on our responsibility to our children by somehow creating this world where they're surrounded by images of sexuality; and yet, we as adults struggle to talk to kids honestly about sex, the rules of dignity and consent. Laurie Halse Anderson struggle children sex If I can write a book that will help the world make a little more sense to a teen, then that's why I was put on the planet. Laurie Halse Anderson writing book world Lawyers on TV always tell their clients not to say anything. The cops say that thing: 'Anything you say will be used against you.' Self-incrimination. I looked it up. Three-point vocab word. So why does everyone makes such a big hairy deal about me not talking? Maybe I don't want to incriminate myself. Maybe I don't like the sound of my voice. Maybe I don't have anything to say. Laurie Halse Anderson voice self talking You’re not dead, but you’re not alive, either. You’re a wintergirl. Laurie Halse Anderson wintergirls alive I would never be popular. I didn't want to be; I liked being shy. I'd never be the smartest or the hottest or the happiest. By eighth grade you start to figure out your limits. Laurie Halse Anderson shy limits want There is something about Christmas that requires a rug rat. Little kids make Christmas fun. I wonder if could rent one for the holidays. When I was tiny we would by a real tree and stay up late drinking hot chocolate and finding just the right place for the special decorations. It seems like my parents gave up the magic when I figured out the Santa lie. Maybe I shouldn't have told them I knew where the presents really came from. It broke their hearts. Laurie Halse Anderson christmas real fun Puke and starve and cut and drink because you don't want to feel any of this. Puke and starve and cut and drink because you need an anesthetic and it works. For awhile. But then the anesthetic turns into poison and by then it's to late because you are maintaining it now,straight into your soul. It is rotting you and you can't stop. Laurie Halse Anderson cutting poison soul We held hands when we walked down the gingerbread path into the forest, blood dripping from our fingers. We danced with witches and kissed monsters. We turned us into wintergirls, when she tried to leave, I pulled her back into the snow because I was afraid to be alone. Laurie Halse Anderson snow hands blood Because I am still a little girl who believes in Santa and the tooth fairy and you. Laurie Halse Anderson teeth girl believe I scared myself, because once you've thought long and hard enough about doing something that is colossally stupid, you feel like you've actually done it, and then you're never quite sure what your limits are. Laurie Halse Anderson done stupid long It made me strong.I took a step back, near my whole self in the mirror.I pushed back my shoulders and raised my chin, my back straight as an arrow. Laurie Halse Anderson mirrors strong self I want to go to sleep and not wake up, but I don't want to die. I want to eat like a normal person eats, but I need to see my bones or I will hate myself even more and I might cut my heart out or take every pill that was ever made. Laurie Halse Anderson hate sleep heart Dead girl walking” the boys say in the halls. “Tell us your secrets” the girls whisper, one toilet to another. "I am that girl. I am the spaces between my thighs, daylight shinning through. I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame. Laurie Halse Anderson girl space boys There is something about Christmas that requires a rug rat. Little kids make Christmas fun. I wonder if could rent one for the holidays. Laurie Halse Anderson holiday fun kids In one universe, they are gorgeous, straight-teethed, long-legged, wrapped in designer fashions, and given sports cars on their sixteenth birthdays. Teacher smile at them and grade them on the curve. They know the first names of the staff. They are the Pride of the Trojans. Oops – I mean Pride of the Blue Devils. In Universe #2, they throw parties wild enough to attract college students. They worship the stink of Eau de Jocque. They rent beach houses in Cancún during Spring Break and get group-rate abortions before prom. Laurie Halse Anderson fashion sports beach Did you read last nights assignments?" Say "yes'" and get hammered again. Say "no'" and the same thing would happen. Laurie Halse Anderson assignments lasts night I can see us, living in the woods, her wearing that A, me with a S maybe, S for silent, S for stupid, for scared. S for silly. For shame. Laurie Halse Anderson woods stupid silly I am learning how to be angry and sad and lonely and joyful and excited and afraid and happy. Laurie Halse Anderson joyful excited lonely
