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Hi, Veronika,

Thanks for posting. You and your countrymen have all my sympathy and support. I’m honored that you chose one of my books for your study, and I’ll try to get to all your quesions.

1. This book, and all my others, don’t require what you might call “inspiration,” Veronika. Most authors, myself included, write because we have something to say, a story to tell. That’s just about all it takes to start us scribbling. I wrote it because writing is what I do as a profession. I’m someone who makes up fiction, and writes it down.

2. I had tons of feedback from teachers, some of whom called it “good old teacher porn.” They thanked me for portraying a teacher as someone with a calling, something much more than just a job. They seemed to appreciate being portrayed as people who were devoted to their students, even when suffering what you might call “burn-out.”

3. I hope the life lesson from this book will be that everyone has something to offer in this world, however unusual or unconventional it may be. And that devotion to one another is a wonderful quality. (And vuvuzuelas are noisy things!)

4. When I look back on the teachers who brought me from kindergarten on through to a college degree (a Bachelor of Arts), I can see every face, hear every voice. Each one “soldiers on” in his or her own way. I never had a single one who wasn’t completely devoted to making me into an educated person, and I’m immensely grateful to all of them!

Re: your theory about Dr.Thaddeus and his perfidy. That’s what I had in mind. Good for you for figuring it out! (And all in impeccable English, too!) Congratulations! And thanks again for choosing my book.

Kindest regards and prayers for your peace and safety,                                                                —–Gordon Korman—–