Those of us who consider books to be among our best friends often find ourselves in this … situation … where we fall in love with people who don’t exist.

How many of us have wished to be bosom friends with Anne Shirley or to play Himmel Street soccer with Liesel Meminger and Rudy Steiner?  How many finished that epilogue in Deathly Hallows and then cried because our adventures with the Hogwarts trio were over?  And I know that I discover “my perfect boyfriend” from time to time– someone who exists only in the ink on pages– Gilbert Blythe, Jonah Griggs, Augustus Waters.

When I think of all the friends I’ve made through literature, I’m reminded of the power of books.  I hope I can create characters whom people consider friends someday.

Molly Grue, Stargirl Carraway, Leslie Burke and Jess Aarons, the Pevensie siblings, Dickon, Winnie Foster and Jesse Tuck, Swede Land, Cal Trask, Pi Patel, Diana Barry, Prince Caspian, Richard Parker, Max Vandenburg … who are your best literary friends?