Rebecca Stead is the author of When You Reach Me, a New York Times Notable Book, New York Times bestseller, and winner of the 2010 John Newbery Medal. Rebecca’s first novel for children, First Light, is a Junior Library Guild selection and a Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year. Rebecca grew up in New York City, where she worked as a public defender until about ten years ago. She lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her husband, Sean, and their sons, Jack and Eli. Her latest book for middle grade readers, Liar & Spy came out in August 2012.