The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez

by Robin Yardi

  “I told you. Mateo got the trike back. He gave it to me. For keeps.” Mila shuffled off toward the door. “Bet you I can make it down the driveway faster than you,” she yelled.

  I followed her out there. “Mila, it’s not going to be faster now just because it’s yours.”

  “Oh, man,” Ashwin said, thumping down the front steps.

  I swung a leg over Steed. Mila plunked herself down on her trike and grabbed the handles hard.

  “Ready, set, go!” Ashwin shouted.

  We raced down the driveway, and it was close.

  But Mila won.

  Ashwin asked me if I let her.

  “Nah,” I said. “I guess I’m pretty tired from all that riding last night.”

  “Really?” Mila asked, staring at me crooked.

  “That’s the truth,” I said.

  And it sort of was.

  Acknowledgments

  A book is the creation of many hands, so my first thank you is for everyone at Lerner Books who helped make my story into a real thing that I can hold in mine. Thank you to Teagan White for pink raccoons. For a cover as lovely and weird and funny as I could have wished for. Thank you to my editor, Greg Hunter, who I’m pretty sure knew what this book was about before I did and who helped me find the best way to tell my story.

  Thank you to Erica Rand Silverman, who has lifted me up with her patient enthusiasm—a thing it seems almost impossible to have, but she has it. Plus, she likes all my dumb jokes and has never once called me too quirky.

  Thank you to my writing friends, almost all gleaned from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, for reading and questioning and then reading again all along the way. A special thank you to John Parra for reading and saying nice things at just the right time. Just when I needed it.

  To my sisters, who are like secret weapons, ones you have all the time, whether you want them or not, who know that I’m not very good at saying thank you—I’ll just say, I’m glad I have you (most of the time) and I hope you don’t mind if I continue to put all your cuteness and weirdness and drama into my books. Because that’s my plan.

  Last, for just living in Santa Barbara, I feel a great debt. Like any city, it is filled with small communities, pockets of people, and streets and parks. But this city between the mountains and the strangely south-facing coast, with its fog and festivals, is the only one I call mine, and I’m so happy to share it with you.

  About the Author

  Robin Yardi lives in the California foothills, where—every once in a while, in the dark of night—a skunk or two will sneak by. She loves good stories, animals of all sorts, homemade cakes, and kids. She thinks kids are way cooler than grownups, which is why she writes just for them. Visit her online at www.robinyardi.com.