E. Lockhart born September 13, 1967 is an American writer of children's picture books, young-adult novels, and adult fiction. Grew up in Cambridge Massachusetts and Seattle, Washington, she grew up sitting in the back of theaters and watching rehearsals and plays, this is how she found her love of writing. She attended Vascar college and graduate school at Columbia University, where she then got her doctorate in English Literature, she always writes from personal experience but in a fictional form. Currently living in New York City area.

Lockhart's greatest work is "We Were Liars"
A New England family goes for the summer to their private island off of Martha's Vineyard.
"We are Sinclairs. No one is needy. No one is wrong. We live, at least in the summertime, on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts. Perhaps that is all you need to know. Except that some of us are liars."

"Then he pulled out a handgun and shot me in the chest. I was standing on the lawn and I fell. The bullet hole opened wide and my heart rolled our of my rib cage and down into a flower bed. Blood gushed rhythmically from my open wound, then from my eyes, my ears, my mouth. It tasted like salt and failure. The bright red shame of being unloved soaked the grass in front of our house, the bricks of the path, the steps of the porch. My heart spasmed among the peonies like a trout"
I chose this quote because through out the story the main character struggles with depression and the rough time of her family being so perfect, and secretive, so I think this describes how she feels through the novel.

Lockhart is significant in American literature because her writing confronts problems relevant to today's world, making it shown in her pieces of literature. She also really took this book, along with her others, to heart and tried to make it the best that she could. In an interview she stated that she rewrote "We Were Liars" at least fifteen times, I think that is dedication.

This book was amazing. Lockhart had me captivated the whole time while I was reading this book, this book is not easily described without giving too much away and you don't really want to say much about it, because you want others to experience it for themselves. There is so much imagery and detail, it's almost like you are watching a movie. While reading this I was grabbing on to every single word because I was so intrigued, and wanted more. I think the best part about this book though is the fact that it makes you think

Are people capable of changing who they are?
Yes, throughout the novel the main character Cadence goes through some major changes, that end up changing her as a person, changing the way she thinks, the ways she acts, and how she interacts with others. The events that happen in her life can't not change someone.