Chris Crutcher has written eleven critically acclaimed young adult novels, an autobiography, and two collections of short stories. He draws on his experience as a family therapist and child protection specialist to write honestly about real issues facing teenagers today. For his efforts, nearly every one of his books has been banned in a community somewhere in America. He has won three lifetime achievement awards for the body of his work: the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the ALAN Award, and the NCTE National Intellectual Freedom Award. Five of his books appeared on the American Library Association list of the Best Books For Teens of the Twentieth Century. Chris Crutcher lives in Spokane, Washington.Jarrett Dapier is the 2016 recipient of the American Library Association John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award for his research into censorship in Chicago Public Schools.

As a musician and actor, he has appeared at the Goodman Theater, Lookingglass Theater, and the White House. His stage adaptation of My Ántonia by Willa Cather premiered at The Station Theatre in Urbana, IL, where he is a company member. He has a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Jarrett lives in Evanston, IL.