“I was a troubled teen and I was constantly looking for someone to throw me a rope. Those ropes are connections. They allow us to see that life exists beyond the little worlds we are currently a part of.”

Lauren Oliver is an American novelist and screenwriter. She gained recognition for her YA fantasy series *The Shadow Children*, which explores themes of family, identity, and hidden worlds. Her work blends intricate world-building with emotional depth, appealing to both young and adult readers.