Dear Blue Sky

by Mary Sullivan

  I looked to the golden eye of the sun as I ran across the sand toward the water. A wave crashed, and the sea sprayed up on my face and arms. This was my life.

  “Come on!” I called to Jack and Van, and I took off running down the beach, breathing.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I am forever grateful to my agent, Lane Zachary, my editor, Nancy Paulsen, and associate editor Sara Kreger.

  To all the Iraqi girl bloggers brave enough to write about how the war changed their lives.

  To the soldiers who fought in the war, and the families they left behind.

  To Marcia and Harry Garvey for giving me a place to write, and to Hoodie for every Tuesday.

  And to Chris, Tess, Calla, CC, and Malcolm—for everything else.