Select Few
Page 30
John tried the handle of the door, and it gave. To my surprise, he backed away. The unspoken gesture meant, “you go first.” I put my palm on the wood door and opened it fully.
There was a girl with long, brown hair, wearing a hoodie, sitting on a freshly made twin bed, sandwiched between two parents who were talking softly to her. The woman had her arm around her daughter. Both parents stood when I entered.
I walked into the little room.
“Hi,” I said, extending my hand.
All three of them looked at me expectantly, the room bathed in sprinkles of light.
“I’m Julia Jaynes.”
Acknowledgments
To my talented and thoughtful editor, Monica Perez, thank you so much for being on board with my vision for this series and for making the books better.
Donna Spurlock and the entire team at Charlesbridge, your time and effort spent championing this story is so appreciated.
Many, many thanks also to my agent, Kerry Sparks, at Levine Greenberg Rostan.
Once again, Amanda Ward, I am so grateful for your editorial feedback and guidance.
For advice, research, and help along the way, thanks go to: Megan Frederick, May Cobb, Debby Wolfinsohn, Vivian Raksakulthai, Chris Dammert, Vanessa Verzandvoort, Jennifer Freel, Matt Gravelle, Crispa Aeschbach Jachmann, Susan Hewlitt, Maureen Carlson, Dini Snow, Elizabeth Kramer, Nancy McDonald, Kjersti McCormick, and David Weisenberg.
My mother, Kathleen Weisenberg, gets a special shout-out for giving me a crazy amount of love and support, not to mention considerable help with child care.
I couldn’t have written this book without my husband, Jeff Gothard. Thank you for being a great editor and for reading the book in all its different iterations. Writing is a solo journey, but you made me feel so much less alone.
Astrid and Margot, thanks again for being patient. And for insisting on a dog named Spirit. Trixie will be in the next book, I promise.