When she was clean, she dressed in her nightshirt and brushed her hair. She patted the ancient, threadbare rabbits in the window, pulled back the covers, and got into bed. Enough sun leaked past the window shade that it wasn’t truly dark, but she could feel sleep tugging at her already.

“I’m going to tear it all down,” she whispered.

She dreamed of her father, smiling at her as he had so often in life, the smile that meant he loved her more than anything in the world. And she dreamed of a huge, cat-slitted silver eye, vast and alien, that somehow felt like home.

END

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I have run out of pets for the dedication, unless you count parakeets and goldfish. Instead, this time I thank all the hardworking cats of the world, who spend countless hours every day carefully training their humans.

First, I need to thank everyone who read my early drafts: Robyn Murphy, who met up with me at Phoenix Comic-Con to assure me I was on the right track; Cat Rambo, whose reading speed and critical eye practically count as superpowers; and Casey Blair, who managed to find time to help me in spite of her own insane schedule. All three are excellent writers, and my work is always better for their assistance.

Second, as always, my agent Seth Fishman (who doubles as a draft reader in his own right!) and everyone else at the Gernert Company: Will Roberts, Rebecca Gardner, and Andy Kifer. Also as usual, Caspian Dennis at Abner Stein keeps everything going on the UK side.

Third, my editor, Kathy Dawson, and her assistant, Claire Evans, who are insightful and endlessly patient with me.

Fourth, Alexander Jansson, whose covers and artwork continue to be one of the highlights of writing this series.

Fifth, all the excellent people at Penguin and publishers around the world who bring these words to physical (or digital) reality. In particular, this time I’d like to thank the people at Penguin Young Readers who set up visits and Skype sessions with classrooms and libraries across the country. (If you’re a teacher or librarian, check them out: www.penguinclassroom.com.)

Finally, of course, my thanks to readers everywhere. I hope you’re all having as much fun with Alice’s adventures as I am.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Django Wexler is a self-proclaimed computer/fantasy/sci-fi geek. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with degrees in creative writing and computer science, worked in artificial intelligence research and as a programmer/writer for Microsoft, and is now a full-time fantasy writer. Django is the author of The Shadow Campaigns, an epic fantasy series for adults published by Roc (an imprint of Penguin), and The Forbidden Library, a classic fantasy series for young readers published by Kathy Dawson Books (an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group).

Also available in The Forbidden Library series:

The Forbidden Library

The Mad Apprentice