ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This novel exists because I was fortunate enough to receive the help, support, and expertise of a great many people. I would like to mention a few: Jessica Tribble and the entire team at Thomas & Mercer and Amazon Publishing and Kevin Smith, for their incredible collaboration; Paul Lucas and everyone at Janklow & Nesbit, for taking a chance; Adam Levine, Karl Austen, and Tom Strickler, for never wavering; Steve Silberman, for his exhaustive research on the history of autism; Elizabeth Bingham, Steve Bernt, Susanne Bernt, Karin Colquitt, Josh Goldstein, Patti Goldstein, Sister Judith Costello, and my other early readers for their invaluable critical feedback; David Moore, for his continuing guidance; and, last but not least, the two teachers who convinced me I could write: Mark Parish at James Madison Memorial High School and Reginald Gibbons at Northwestern University. You two changed my life.