Nowhere Girl (17 page)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

So many people have had a part in helping to bring this book to life: to each and every one of you—and to the many others I haven't named here—I give my heartfelt thanks and appreciation.

Firstly, to my stellar editor, Stacy Cantor Abrams, who saw the potential in my early draft and helped me make it all that it could be; and to Erin Murphy, who is all things wonderful and magnificent, pretty much a dream come true.

To my critique group and writing partners, who read countless versions, pulled me out of holes, brainstormed with me, and provided encouragement, input, and listening ears galore: Natalie Lorenzi, Cynthia Omololu, Julie Phillips, and Kip Wilson; Kate Messner; Nancy Viau; John Bell, Mordena Babich, Karen Day, Kathryn Hulick, Ed Loechler, Mitali Perkins, Laya Steinberg, and Tui Sutherland.

To all my fabulous clients and the rest of the Gango: you guys are the best. Literally.

To the NESCBWI for awarding this manuscript the 2009 Ruth Landers Glass Scholarship, for helping me believe there just might be something to this story of a girl with a most unusual name.

To Euan Harvey, Brianne and Brooke Bryant, and Elli Wollard, who scrutinized my Thai language and culture references and helped me correct my many errors. Any remaining missteps are entirely my own. To the representatives from the Port of Oakland, for answering my string of random questions, and to my uncle John, for providing essential input on immigration by ship.

And lastly—but of crowning importance—to Zack, Kimberly, and Lauren. I'm so blessed to have you in my life. I can't think of anything better than this moment, me and you and all of us. Gratitude doesn't even come close.

Copyright © 2011 by A.J. Paquette

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

First published in the United States of America in September 2011
by Walker Publishing Company, Inc. a division of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.
Electronic edition published in September 2011
www.bloomsburykids.com

For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to,
Permissions, Walker BFYR
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Paquette, Ammi-Joan.
Nowhere girl / A.J. Paquette..
p. cm.

Summary: Fair-skinned and blond-haired, thirteen-year-old Luchi was born in a Thai prison where her
American mother was being held and she has never had any other home, but when her mother dies
Luchi sets out into the world to search for the family and home she has always dreamed of.
ISBN-: 978-0-8027-2297-3
[1. Identity—Fiction. 2. Voyages and travels-Fiction. 3. Americans-Thailand-Fiction. 4. Fathers-Fiction. 5. Families-Fiction.]
I. Title.
PZ7.P2119No 2011 [Fic]-dc22 2010049591

eISBN 978-0-8027-2322-2