Woodford Brave Read online

  Q. Was your childhood like Cory’s? Was there ever a time you had to live up to high expectations like Cory?

  A. I was nothing like Cory, but there was someone who did something heroic for me when I was in fifth grade. I don’t know why, but a group of girls started bullying me, and they were merciless. It continued day after day, making my life miserable. Then one day, a girl in that same group stood up for me, telling her friends they were being unfair and that she wasn’t going to participate anymore. It took great courage for her to risk her own friendships and reputation, but that single act of courage changed my life. To this day, I try to live up to her example. Instead of automatically going along with others, I remind myself that just because other people think and say certain things, or just because something has always been done a certain way, it doesn’t necessarily make those things right for me to do and say!

  MARCIA THORNTON JONES didn’t capture Nazi spies, battle ghosts, or play ball for the Rockford Peaches, but she was terrorized by wolfhounds and did know a draft dodger as a young girl. She is the author/co-author of more than 130 children’s books, including seven popular series. She lives in Lexington, Kentucky. marciatjones.com.

  Like Cory, KEVIN WHIPPLE grew up in a small Midwestern town. He graduated from The College for Creative Studies in Detroit and received an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Kevin has been published by various magazines and newspapers including the New York Times and Fortune. He works and lives in Brooklyn, New York. kevinwhipple.com.

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