journal-of-reading-“books-for-adolescents”

On abortion: When I did get a book contract an editor wanted me to include some scenes in which one of the sisters has an abortion and Angie knows about it. I think it is a credit to my judgment as an emerging artist that I just refused to do that. I said to him, ‘It could occur in someone else’s summer, but it could not occur in Angie Morrow’s summer.’” (424)

On wild grapes: “There is a section in the book in which the characters, Jack and Angie, go on a picnic. Eventually they leave the group around the fire and go off into the woods together. Librarians have told me that the four to five pages covering that incident are often torn out of books, and though it wasn’t my intent, there is a distinct feeling there that Jack and Angie’s romance had become ultimately sexual. I guess it was suggested strongly.” (424-425)