Marc Talbert follows a unique philosophy in writing books for children and young adults. Whereas many authors create stories for a specific age group and others focus on a popular type of fiction, Talbert writes for his characters. In an interview with Authors and Artists for Young Adults (AAYA), the writer explained: "My stories have to remain true to the characters I've created. If they don't, then I feel I've betrayed the characters and I haven't fulfilled my purpose as a novelist." In keeping with this perception of his role, Talbert conducts meticulous research for all of his books. He reads extensively, talks with experts, observes human behavior, and even tries new and unusual experiences to gain insight into his characters. Talbert's approach clearly has worked. He currently ranks among the foremost writers of social-issue novels for younger readers, and critics consistently praise his complex, realistically drawn characters...