"People think dreams aren't real just because they aren't made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes."

[But] we lie to children... We tell them all bullies are cowards that back down when you stand up to them. Or be yourself and you’ll be happy. And we think as they grow older that they’ll see through it. Sometimes good people don’t get to be happy.

And then we get to YA literature. The great truth teller to teens everywhere. And sometimes we’re still lying. That’s why we have those fantasies set in pseudo pre-industrial and feudal periods, but still enlightened enough to have a woman warrior. They may be well-intentioned lies, but these are not young children. They might not be sophisticated enough to see through the lies, but give them the truth, believe that they are ready for it or they wouldn’t be reading the book.

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