Tom McNeal was born and raised in Santa Ana, California, but spent part of every summer at the Nebraska farm where his mother grew up. After earning a BA in English at UC Berkeley and an MFA in Creative Writing at UC Irvine, he became a teacher. He now lives in southern California with his wife and two sons.

"Sprightly, assured, and original" The Horn Book Review "Whether readers connect more deeply with the suspense, the magical elements, or the gloriously improbable love story, they will come away with a lingering taste of enchantment." School Library Journal "A fantastic tale, seamlessly told." -- Ann Giles The Bookwitch "McNeal weaves in fantastical fairy-tale details into this inventive and deeply poignant narrative, creating a world that hovers between realism and enchantment" Publishers Weekly "Reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel, and rife with allusions to Grimm Brothers' tales, this is a masterful story of outcasts, the power of faith, and the triumph of good over evil." Booklist

Tom McNeal was born and raised in Santa Ana, California, but spent part of every summer at the Nebraska farm where his mother grew up. After earning a BA in English at UC Berkeley and an MFA in Creative Writing at UC Irvine, he became a teacher. He now lives in southern California with his wife and two sons.

"Sprightly, assured, and original" The Horn Book Review "Whether readers connect more deeply with the suspense, the magical elements, or the gloriously improbable love story, they will come away with a lingering taste of enchantment." School Library Journal "A fantastic tale, seamlessly told." -- Ann Giles The Bookwitch "McNeal weaves in fantastical fairy-tale details into this inventive and deeply poignant narrative, creating a world that hovers between realism and enchantment" Publishers Weekly "Reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel, and rife with allusions to Grimm Brothers' tales, this is a masterful story of outcasts, the power of faith, and the triumph of good over evil." Booklist