Cynthia Kadohata is the author of the Newbery Medalβwinning bookΒ Kira-Kira,Β the National Book Award winnerΒ The Thing About Luck, the Jane Addams Peace Award and PEN America Award winnerΒ Weedflower,Β Cracker!,Β Outside Beauty,Β A Million Shades of Gray,Β Half a World Away,Β Checked,Β AΒ Place to Belong, Saucy, and several critically acclaimed adult novels, includingΒ The Floating World. She lives with her dogs and hockey-playing son in California. Visit her online at CynthiaKadohata.com.