To all the teachers who told me it was okay to write, draw, and tell stories. Thanks especially to:

Mrs. Garnett, second grade, Helen Keller Elementary

Mrs. Hawkinson, fourth grade, Ben Franklin Elementary

Mrs. Adams, sixth grade, Ben Franklin Elementary

Ms. Stufft, eighth grade, Severna Park Middle School

Mrs. Gaggi, tenth grade, Lewis-Palmer High School

About the Author

Carrie Vaughn had a happy and relatively uneventful childhood, which means she had to turn to science fiction and fantasy for material to write about. An Air Force brat, she grew up all over the U.S. and managed to put down roots in Colorado , though she still has ambitions of being a world traveler. Learn more about Carrie’s novels, her short stories, her dog Lily, and her fascination with costumes and stick figure cartoons at www.carrievaughn.com.