Penny from Heaven (14 page)

RESOURCES

DiStasi, Lawrence, ed.
Una Storia Segreta: The Secret History of Italian American Evacuation and Internment During World War II.
Berkeley, Calif.: Heyday Books, 2001.

WEB SITES

The National Italian American Foundation:
www.niaf.org
.

World War II Internment:
www.segreta.org
.

Acknowledgments

The support I received from my family and the Italian American community in telling this story fills my heart so full that I think it’ll burst. Trust me, I know what a lucky girl I am.
Mille grazie!

First and foremost, I want to thank historian Lawrence DiStasi. His encouragement helped me give a small voice to the story of Italian Americans during World War II. Thanks to him and countless others, this part of American history is no longer a “secret story.” Many thanks to Gina Miele at the Coccia Institute at Montclair State University; Fred Gardaphe at the State University of New York at Stony Brook; Julianna Barbato, Michael Marcinelli, Samuela Matani at the National Italian American Foundation; and the wonderful American Italian Historical Association.

A Brooklyn shout-out to everyone who helped me remember Ebbets and the Boys of Summer, including Claudette Burke at the Baseball Hall of Fame, Rick Whitney, John Lord, and Dem Bums fans at the Baseball Fever Web site.

My family has been enormously indulgent of my writing. Thanks to you all (especially for feeding me!): Frank and Mary DeGennaro, Dr. Ralph Scaccia, Donald and Rosalie Scaccia, and especially my cousin Sister Laura Longo. And a special thanks to my grampa Michael Hearn, who has put up with my endless phone calls.

I have been fortunate to have enthusiastic editorial support. My heartfelt thanks to Penny’s godmother, the incredible Shana Corey, and Penny’s other “aunts”: Cathy Goldsmith and Kate Klimo and Mallory Loehr and Jill Grinberg.

Finally, I cannot begin to thank enough the one person who encouraged me to give this story life from its earliest days—my wonderful mother, Penny Scaccia Holm. As long as there are readers, your story will live on. The lucky bean is safe in my hands.

About the Author

J
ENNIFER
L. H
OLM
won a Newbery Honor for her first novel,
Our Only May Amelia,
which was also named an ALA Notable Book and a
Publishers Weekly
Best Children’s Book of 1999. Jennifer is the author of several other highly praised books, including the Boston Jane trilogy,
The Creek,
and the Babymouse series, which she collaborates on with her brother Matthew Holm. Jennifer lives in Maryland with her husband, their son, and a rather large cat. You can visit her Web site at
www.jenniferholm.com
.

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Published by Yearling, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books a division of Random House, Inc., New York

“Pennies from Heaven” by Johnny Burke and Arthur Johnston © 1936 (renewed) CHAPPELL & CO., INC. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Warner Bros. Publications U.S., Inc., Miami, Florida 33014.

Photos courtesy of:
National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland
. Ely Greenfield, used by permission of
Una Storia Segreta,
a project of the
American Italian Historical Association, Western Regional Chapter
.
Lake County Museum/CORBIS
. All other photos from the personal collection of Beverly Ann Scaccia Holm, used by permission.

Copyright © 2006 by Jennifer L. Holm

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eISBN: 978-0-375-84926-8

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