I wanted to read about kids like me, but also different from me and especially, older than me. We had ' Charlotte's Web,' yet the rise of middle grade books was still years away.

The class was Pre-Algebra, and though it was perfectly fine to read before the bell rang, my reading material, 'Clan of the Cave Bear,' was 'not appropriate for a girl my age,' according to the teacher. Perhaps the controversial novel with very adult scenes was not the best use of my time, but the school library didn't hold much for me, either. At 12 years old, I was first yelled at by a teacher for reading.