Katherine Paterson

Feeling deprived all her life of schooling, friends, mother, and even her name by her twin sister, Sara Louise finally begins to emerge from her sister's shadow and build her own life.

When his family becomes a successful country music group and makes him a featured singer, eleven-year-old James has to deal with big changes in all aspects of his life, even his name.

In speeches, essays, and book reviews, the novelist Katherine Paterson discusses why she writes children's books, where her ideas come from, how she develops her characters and realistic plots, and her experiences growing up in China.