Ground Zero(67)

Special thanks to Sergeant Matthew Peterson, who served in the US army in Afghanistan, and to Hanif Sufizada, coordinator of education and outreach programs for the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Center for Afghanistan Studies, for reading the chapters with Reshmina and Taz and giving me notes. Your comments were invaluable. Any mistakes that remain are my own.

Thanks as always to my great friend Bob. And big thanks to my literary agent, Holly Root at Root Literary, and to my publicists and right-hand women, Lauren Harr and Caroline Christopoulos at Gold Leaf Literary—the work you do allows me to do the work I do. And thanks again to all the teachers, librarians, and booksellers out there who put my books into the hands of young readers—you’re awesome!

Last but never least, much love and thanks to my wife, Wendi, and my daughter, Jo.

It’s not us against the world; it’s all of us, working together, for each other.





Alan Gratz is the New York Times bestselling author of several acclaimed books for young readers, including Refugee, a New York Times Notable Book and an Amazon, Kirkus Reviews, and Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year; Allies, recipient of four starred reviews and an Amazon Best Book of the Year; Grenade, the 2018 Freeman Book Award winner; Projekt 1065, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year; Prisoner B-3087, winner of eight state awards and included on YALSA’s 2014 Best Fiction for Young Adults list; and Code of Honor, a YALSA 2016 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. Alan lives in North Carolina with his wife and daughter. Look for him online at alangratz.com.