HMH Books for Young Readers

SURVIVE THESE WOODS, A MAN HAS

For Vita and
for all the Roses in this world,
who are brave, who are warriors,
and who persevere,

Oh, God, I’ve done it again! “I mean Jared.” Face flaming, Molly flapped a hand at them and took off at a run across the lawn in front of the school. She could feel Jared’s eyes watching her. She didn’t slow down till she reached Mill Road, then walked with her long-legged lope down the big hill to Route 21.

Molly didn’t notice her mother’s red sports car until her mother tooted the horn and pulled up to the curb. Molly looked up, startled. Her pale cheeks flushed as she approached the car.

“I left the office early today,” Jen told her daughter in greeting. “So I thought I’d wait at the school till your swim lesson ended and give

We are such stuff

As dreams are made on;

and our little life

Is rounded with a sleep.

—William Shakespeare,

The Tempest, Act 4, Scene 1

An owl called, its shuddering hoots repeating mournfully in the distance.

Somewhere nearby, heavy wings swooped and a young rabbit, captured by sharp talons, shrieked as he was lifted to his doom.

“You do remember the book, don’t you? Ouch!” She had stumbled a bit.

They tiptoed across. Littlest noticed her own shadow in the moonlight. “My goodness!” she exclaimed. “I didn’t know we had shadows!”

Forgetting her promise of no questions, Littlest suddenly asked, “Might we be human?” But Fastidious did not reply.

Occasionally she thought that she should get a cat. Women her age often kept cats as company.