Several people have read bits or all of this book in its various drafts (and under various titles). Special thanks go to Jon Appleton, Adèle Geras, Alison Leonard and Celia Rees, for their encouragement; also to David Fickling, Bella Pearson, Simon Mason and Tilda Johnson for editorial input, to Catherine Clarke and Michele Topham at Felicity Bryan Agency, and to everyone at Doubleday. As always I owe a big thank you to Linda Sargent, to whom the book is dedicated, and to Trevor for various kinds of support.