My colleagues and friends, Carissa Ara, Christin Alvarado, Marissa Limon, and Doyle Valdez, dutifully listened to so many versions of this story, across the country and in Austin, Texas, that they could tell it themselves. Yet they never lost interest or wavered in their desire to help. And my friend Gail Collins, who has included me in two of her books (When Everything Changed and As Texas Goes . . .), offered vital encouragement and advice to this first-time author.
No book is a solo journey, and I have been aided and helped by so many, including my talented co-writer, Ruth Katcher, who captured the feelings, especially adolescent emotional angst, and brilliantly transformed what I had written, recasting it into a compelling story.
My brothers, Armando and Mario, and my Tía Angélica patiently answered many historical questions, dusting off the memories of long-ago family events. My parents and younger sister have passed away, and I leaned heavily on my older brother, Mario, himself a published author, who painstakingly provided edits, advice, and corrections. My cousin Cathy Barba’s corrective nuances in both English and Spanish sharpened the narrative. I am grateful to my many relatives, in both of my parents’ families, here in the United States and in Mexico. I feel their love and support.
Two organizations, Head Start and the Girl Scouts, were gracious in answering many questions about their programs in the 1960s, providing details that escaped my notice as a young girl. Yasmina Vinci, the Executive Director of Head Start, has been a stalwart on this journey, giving me many opportunities to share my story with Head Start families and staff, a source of invaluable feedback and suggestions. Wanting to make sure we got the details right about Girl Scout badges, programs, uniforms, handbooks, and cookies, Diane Russo and Yevgeniya Gribov at Girl Scouts of the USA were dogged in tracking down historical information. I am grateful for my Girl Scouts colleagues who have been so supportive.
At Clarion Books, Susan Buckheit did a thoughtful, careful copyediting job. I am grateful to the Clarion team as a whole, including Dinah Stevenson, Lisa DiSarro, Amanda Acevedo, Alia Almeida, Veronica Wasserman, Tara Shanahan, Andrea Miller, and Kiffin Steurer, for their dedication and passion for making this the best book possible and getting it into the hands of readers. My gratitude goes to Isabel Mendoza, for her expert and nuanced work crafting the Spanish translation of this book. And I’m especially fortunate to have Anne Hoppe as an editor: her enthusiasm is contagious, and her editorial insight was transformative.
The love and faith of my friends and extended and blended family across the country, and especially in my hometowns of Las Cruces, Menlo Park, Austin, New York, and Santa Barbara have been my mainstays and supporters. You, dear family and friends, patiently listened to my stories and continuously offered encouragement.
Dr. Janet Osimo has made everything else possible. Thank you.
Me as a Brownie
Me as CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA
Visit www.hmhco.com or your favorite retailer to buy the book.
Visite www.hmhco.com o su tienda favorita para comprar el libro.
About the Author
(Left) Sylvia Acevedo, Brownie
(Right) Sylvia Acevedo, CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA
CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA, SYLVIA ACEVEDO has been an engineer, rocket scientist, award-winning entrepreneur, businesswoman, and commissioner on the White House Initiative for Education Excellence for Hispanics. Raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, she currently divides her time between California and New York City.
Visit Sylvia on the web at sylviaacevedo.org
Visit the Girl Scouts of the USA at www.girlscouts.org
Connect with HMH on Social Media
Follow us for book news, reviews, author updates, exclusive content, giveaways, and more.
Path to the Stars Page 18