Remembering Paula Danziger

I am sad. I just found out that one of my favorite authors, Paula Danziger, has passed away. Actually I've "known" for some time, yet to actually know for sure... it breaks my heart. She wrote many fantastic books. I laughed and cried with her characters (my favorites are Marcy Lewis and Lauren Allen) during their struggle to grow up and do the right things. Her writings inspired me to write for teens. Her death came to me as a blow.

I remember the first time I knew her writings. It was in 1992, Singapore. I found a blue hardcover book of hers, containing three stories--The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, There's a Bat at Bunk Five!, Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice?--wonderful books. I was fascinated to read the lives of Mary and Lauren. I found a little bit of myself in them. Danziger bewitched me into her stories, making me want to find more and more of her books.

I'd better find a hanky now.