Deborah Ellis Quotes

When the Taliban took over in 1996, the news of their crimes hit the Toronto papers. As a feminist and as an anti-war activist, I heard about what was happening to women, and I wanted to do something to support those folks.

If I’m going to be a pessimist, then I should just stop writing for young people because that’s too heavy a burden to put on young readers. But also, I get to meet with people who have waded through horrible things, and they get up every morning, and they try to do their best.

As a woman in Canada, I get to do whatever I want to do and I’m used to that. I’m used to not having my government tell me my life is going to be restricted because I’m female.

While the war in Iraq was raging, I spent some time in neighbouring Jordan, meeting with Iraqi refugees who fled their country to try to find some place of safety. I interviewed many families about what had happened to them and what they did as a result.

I was really bored, pretty antisocial, and not much of a joiner, and people thought that was a problem. I hated high school. In a way, it was good… I think, for a writer, it’s good to be comfortable with being on the outside.

We owe it to our children to be honest about the world and to provide them with material written specially for them.

I think most people, no matter what their situation, manage to find joy and comfort in their daily lives. I also think things fall apart.

You have to see the human being in the enemy. If there is potential for change, there is still hope.

As a woman in Canada, I get to do whatever I want to do, and I’m used to that. I’m used to not having my government tell me my life is going to be restricted because I’m female.