Lynne Rae Perkins was awarded the Newbery Medal for Criss Cross . She is the author of five other novels-- All Alone in the Universe , As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth , Nuts to You , Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea , and Violet and Jobie in the Wild . Lynne Rae Perkins has also written and illustrated several acclaimed picture books, including Frank and Lucky Get Schooled , The Broken Cat , Snow Music , Pictures from Our Vacation , The Cardboard Piano , Wintercake , and The Museum of Everything . The author lives with her family in northern Michigan. Visit her online at lynnerae.com.