I am forever grateful to my editor, Dana Carey, who gave this book the utmost attention, care, and love. Without her keen eye for detail and her ability to see the big picture, this story wouldn’t be what it is. Thank you to Wendy Lamb for being our guiding star, and to Alyssa Eisner Henkin for always believing in my work and cheering me on, even when I doubt myself.

A round of applause to Celia Krampien for capturing the feel of the story with the vintage-postcard cover art and to designer Bob Bianchini for pulling the concept together. I am in awe of your talents since I can’t draw a straight line. Thank you also to copy editors/comma queens Colleen Fellingham, Alison Kolani, Bess Schelper, and Kathleen Reed for your thoroughness and diligence with the manuscript.

I am greatly appreciative of the help I received from Gina LaLiberte at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Amanda Koch at the Wisconsin Division of Public Health, and Jackie Weber and Gregg Zink at Integrated Lakes Management in Waukegan, Illinois. They never hesitated to answer my numerous questions and patiently explain scientific information. Thank you also to Mark O’Brien and Molly Pinta, who generously assisted with Zach’s character.

As always, to Ben, Rachel, Sam, and Cassie: your unending support through all the ups and downs it takes to write a novel is valued more than you realize.

I took a leap of faith when I decided to have a beautiful, ancient lake and a river narrate part of this story. I feel strongly that nature has a voice, but we don’t always hear it—or listen. Our actions affect the balance of all living things on our planet.

This life we have here is a gift. We need to cherish it.