“Suicide. A sideways word, a word that people whisper and mutter and cough: a word that must be squeezed out behind cupped palms or murmured behind closed doors. It was only in dreams that I heard the word shouted, screamed.”

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.