ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like the following people to sit down and take a bow:

Everyone at Macmillan/Roaring Brook, who continue to amaze me.

Nancy Conescu, an early friend of Jack Strong’s.

Lauren Tarshis, who suggested I make Jack a friend of Charlie Joe’s.

Gina Green, who helps me deal with my own overscheduled schedule and keeps me sane in the process.

Brianne Johnson, who is always helpful and always cheerful.

Susan Cohen, for jumping into the fray.

Barbara Kellerman and Jonathan Greenwald, who never made me do anything I didn’t want to do. (Well, almost never.)

And Cathy Utz, who has sat next to me on the couch every night for twenty-five years.