THC: When you were fourteen, you created a nonprofit called “Breaking the Chain” to promote children’s literacy that provides books for schools in the United States and helps build schools abroad. What inspired this charity?

RKC: Well, the goal of the organization is to spread literacy and make the opportunity of education available to every kid. Growing up, reading had a huge impact on my life. There are so many opportunities that education opens up for you and I had never really considered life without it. To think that there are so many children who ... don’t even have access to books at school, who have never owned a book before—that really struck a chord with me. Two-thirds of kids who do not know how to read by the end of fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare. There is an enormous need. All of those things motivate me to keep the nonprofit going.

THC: If you were on a deserted island, what three books would you like to have with you?

RKC: I would definitely say a Harry Potter book—probably the seventh one. “Pillars of the Earth” [by Ken Follett] is a great book. It would keep me busy for a while. Third, I don’t know… a survival guide.

THC: What is your favorite word?

RKC: I love this question! Don’t     ask me why. I just like the way it sounds: dastardly.