Thank you. These simple words fail to convey the impact and depth of my gratitude to the people who have been a part of this novel’s journey to publication. Friendship, kindness, patience, faith, empathy, knowledge, wisdom, constructive criticism, and love were key elements that enabled me to complete this work. I am humbled by your generosity. It is my hope to pay it forward. If I inadvertently forgot to include you in these acknowledgments, I ask for your forgiveness.
For me, there is no other explanation for how I came to write this novel than Divine Providence, so thank you, God. The extraordinary series of events that led to meeting Archer Shurtliff and Jordan April began on July 25, 2016. High school librarian Wendy Scalfaro messaged me on Facebook, asking if I would be interested in speaking at her school. That April 2017 trip to New York changed my life. If you’re interested in the full story, please visit lizawiemer.com.
Archer and Jordan, thank you for speaking out and for being my inspiration. No matter where you are or what you do, I know you’ll continue to have a positive impact.
My agent, Steven Chudney, thank you for discussing the manuscript with Ralph, for changing my life with your yes, and for being such a positive, supportive force. It’s an honor to be a ChudMate. I couldn’t have a better mensch in my corner.
I am grateful to Beverly Horowitz, my editor, for her insight, guidance, vision, unwavering faith in me, and most of all for being this novel’s champion. It’s a privilege to work with someone so exceptional, passionate, and dedicated. Rebecca Gudelis: I only know a fraction of all you do, but it’s obvious to me that you’re a Wonder Woman. Thank you for your support. To my talented and dedicated Delacorte team: Shameiza Ally, Cathy Bobak, Angela Carlino, Lili Feinberg, Colleen Fellingham, Marlene Glazer, Imani Morris, Josh Redlich, and Tamar Schwartz. Jen Strada, thank you for the A+ job on this “assignment.”
For interviews or assistance researching the Holocaust, antisemitism, Fort Ontario and the Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter, or SUNY, thanks to: Professor Christopher Baltus, Reverend George DeMass, Jack and Renee Dygola, Rabbi Cheski Edelman, Rebecca J. Fisher, Professor Emeritus Alan D. Goldberg, Elfi Hendell, Kevin Hill, Elana Kahn, Paul A. Lear, Beth Martinez, Etzion Neuer, Louise Reed, Banna Rubinow, Raizel Schectman, Rabbi Shmaya Shmotkin, Alexa Smith, Dan Smith, the research staff at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Rabbi Yisroel Wilhelm.
Additional interviews:
Sarah Abrams, Erica Cameron, Hal DeLong, Molly Ellner, Liam McLean, Bill Reilly, Claudia Schneider, Amber Scruton, Ava Wales, Blair Wales, Michelle Wichman.
Lifelines and beta readers. Thank you for input and support: Nancy Angulo; Alexis Army; Martina Boone; Shirlee and Barry Doft; Danielle Ellison; Andye Epps; Mary Evers; Amy Fellner Dominy; KayLynn Flanders; Alan S. and Cathy Goldberg; Barbara and Don Goldberg; Kelly Hager; Yitta Halberstam; Laura Harrington; Sydney Hartnett; Ana Jordan; Betsy Kaplan; Benay and Jeff Katz; Sarah Kealy; Clara Kensie; Deborah Lakritz; David and Maureen Luddy; Lizzy Mason; Rachel Muniz; Anuradha Rajurkar; Patricia Riley; Gayle Rosengren; Wendy Scalfaro; Leia, Sebastian, and Rosalie Schaefer; Sheri Schubbe; Rachel Simon; Kathryne Squilla; Marcilia Tartaglia; Payton Thweatt; Steve Waldron; Michelle Walny; Tammara Webber; Barbara Weiss; Sarah Weiss; Lynn Wiese-Sneyd; Nancy Wiese; Heidi Zweifel.
Thank you for your hospitality or for giving me a home away from home to write: Christopher Baltus, Deborah Doft, Nili Doft, Marianne Fons, Alan D. and Dottie Goldberg, Banna Rubinow, Marcy and Moishe Yavor, Write On Door County.
Special shout-outs to Erin Arkin, Jaime Arkin, Katie Bartow, Sandy Brehl, Jenny Chou, Phoebe Dyer, Becca Fowler, Daniel Goldin, Tara Jordan, Hannah McBride, Lisa McCarthy, Dee Paulson, Amy Reale, Jerod Santek, Andi Soule.
Boswell Book Company staff, ChudMates, Delacorte Mavens, Jewish Kidlit Mavens, North Shore Library staff, The River’s End Bookstore staff, SCBWI-Wisconsin.
To the teachers, librarians, students, booksellers, online YA book community, and readers I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in person or online. Your support has meant the world to me. Your time is valuable. I’m grateful you spent some of it with me and my words.
My Doft, Goldberg, Katz, Lahav, Meisel, Pence, Ruminski, Schmidt, Sadan, Shul, Wiemer, Zighelboim family. Last, but never least, thank you to the loves of my life: Jim, Justin and Annabella, Ezra, Bracha, and Mendel.
I took liberties with my description of Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Center, especially with the photographs. Yankel’s story was loosely based on conversations I had with Holocaust survivor, Jack Dygola. Peter Franklin’s experience was inspired by World War II US Navy Lieutenant Jack Taylor’s survival in Mauthausen concentration camp. In chapter thirteen of Ruth Gruber’s Haven: The Dramatic Story of 1,000 World War II Refugees and How They Came to America, I read about the death of baby Elia (Rachel) Montiljo during the voyage to America on the USS Henry Gibbins. Her grieving parents were granted permission to bury her in Oswego. The tragic loss of this tiny Holocaust victim—so close to freedom—haunted me. I was determined to find baby Elia’s grave, to honor her memory and her parents. When I returned to Oswego in July 2017, Jordan, Archer, and Reverend George DeMass, past president of the board of directors at Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum, searched the Jewish burial area at the Riverside Cemetery. Archer found the marker sunk into the ground and hidden by soil, grass, and leaves. We uncovered it. That moment left an indelible mark on me. Cade and Logan’s scene at the cemetery was inspired by that visit.