A word to the unwise. Torch every book. Char every page. Burn every word to ash. Ideas are incombustible. And therein lies your real fear.

— Ellen Hopkins

Babies aren't born cruel or filled with sick desire. Evil is not intrinsic. It's fashioned.

— Ellen Hopkins

Back turned, you don't have to look at what you've left behind. And the person who first turned their back on you can't watch you break down and cry. Never allow an enemy to see weakness in you.

— Ellen Hopkins

But Hey, Guess What Crazy means I'm not liable for my actions. So screw it, I'll go home, propped up on Prozac against distractions

— Ellen Hopkins

But, though I was very much in lust with him, I knew from the start we were nothing like "forever." Maybe because forever is such a scary place.

— Ellen Hopkins

Can a dream be wrong? Aren't dreams God's way of telling you think?

— Ellen Hopkins

Christmas is far and away my favorite holiday. I love everything about it, from the event that inspired it, hoping for a white one, to wrapping presents. But mostly I love having family and friends gathered, and sharing traditions.

— Ellen Hopkins

Crawling up into daddy's lap when dad was stillDADDYnodding my head against his chest soaking in the comfort of his heartLISTENINGto the thump...thump somewhere beneath muscle and breastbone I remember his arms their sublimeENCIRCLINGand the shadow of his voice"I love you, little girl. Put away your bad dreams. Daddy's here"I put them away, Until Daddy became my nightmare that one that cameHOMEfrom work every day and instead of picking me up, chased me far faraway

— Ellen Hopkins

Did you ever, when you were little, endure your parents’ warnings, then wait for them to leave the room, pry loose protective covers and consider inserting some metal object into an electrical outlet? Did you wonder if for once you might light up the room? When you were big enough to cross the street on your own, did you ever wait for a signal, hear the frenzied approach of a fire truck and feel like stepping out in front of it? Did you wonder just how far that rocket ride might take you? When you were almost grown, did you ever sit in a bubble bath, perspiration pooling, notice a blow-dryer plugged in within easy reach, and think about dropping it into the water? Did you wonder if the expected rush might somehow fail you? And now, do you ever dangle your toes over the precipice, dare the cliff to crumble, defy the frozen deity to suffer the sun, thaw feather and bone, take wing to fly you home?

— Ellen Hopkins

Disappointment Can do a couple of things. It can drop you into a giant sucking sinkhole of depression, a place you have to fight to climb out of. Or Incan trigger an epicmaniato overcome the odd sand transform failure into success. Say housings high as the chains will take you because you seethe thrill of flight, and on the up-kick, you lose your seat. Injury is likely. But if you worry about falling down, and never chance "up,"the sky will remain forever out of reach.

— Ellen Hopkins