Nina Bawden Quotes

Adults get more confused by social worker jargon. Unlike children, they are also less likely to see two sides of an argument, and they no longer think they can make the world a better place. That can make them rather boring, I suppose.

But I don’t write about sex for today’s teenagers. Or Doc Martens boots either. I’m more interested in exploring how exactly the world is run, which doesn’t really change that much from one generation to another.

I grew up on a suburban street with lace curtains and dull neighbours, so I made up stories to tell my friend, in which they became serial killers and burglars. She told her mother, who then told mine.

I like stirring the pot – I think it’s part of my duty, to shake people up a bit – make them look at things in a different way.

I like writing for children. It seems to me that most people underestimate their understanding and the strength of their feelings and in my books for them I try to put this right.

I met Richard Burton, an RAF cadet on a two-term course. I would have flirted more enthusiastically if it had not been for the horrid boils on the back of his neck.