My invaluable authenticity readers—and a blanket statement to say that anything not quite right or entirely wrong is all on me. Danielle Carey—who was a teenager in 1999, and living just outside the Singleton Army Base when it was part of Operation Safe Haven. Danielle kindly read a very early draft of this manuscript to give me her impressions of living through this period and in a similar capacity to Fred. Her early encouragement and praise also buoyed me considerably and made me feel less afraid.

Diem Nguyen—for helping me properly bring the Trần family to life; for reading my clunky draft attempts and offering invaluable feedback, strategies, and insights. I’ve known Diem for a number of years now, and she continues to be an exciting and ever-evolving spark in Australian publishing. I am forever grateful that she was willing to give her time and thoughtfulness to this story of mine.

Natasha Solomun (and Ratko!) gave their insights and memories of the NATO bombings, and wider international implications. I’m especially thankful for Natasha’s keen understanding of packing and tempering all of the above into a story for children. I am incredibly lucky to call her a friend and colleague; that I was also able to tap into her compassion and knowledge so close to home was incredible.

Farrells Bookshop and the entire team who continue to make that bookshop as magical in my adulthood as it was in my childhood: Suzie, Indy, Eleesa, Romy, Kate—and especially the original owners (the Farrells!) and current owners (the Hortons!). Local and independent bookstores and booksellers are the lifeblood of literature in Australia, and the world over.

My friends Carly Findlay, Tessa Meehan, and Adele Walsh—their cheerleading over the years has meant so much. Thank you.

Murray and Bella—you were both at my feet or receiving distracted ear scratches and head pats as I wrote a lot of this. I love you both, and I miss you, Bella—very good writing and editing companions and 11/10 doggos.

I can’t thank the dogs and then not the rest of my family. So, Laura, Adam, Harry, Lisa, Claire, Andrea, Carl, Helga, and Don, thank you for constantly asking when the book was coming.

Omi—I have loved sharing books with you all my life. One of my favorite quotes is from Emilie Buchwald: “Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” I am a reader today because my mom was one, and for that we both have you to thank. My whole life is books now, and any tiny dent my writing and agenting may have on literature can be traced back to you, forever more. Another quote I love is a riff from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton: An American Musical: “What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.” Omi, I love you and I thank you—everything you planted in me is starting to grow.