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Together, We Are Better is a real story, but it is not a true story. The charming, smart little storyteller is based on a real girl that I had the pleasure of meeting. However, I combined her with many children that I have met over the years. I used facts and my imagination to take you on a journey from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the United States of America. This is a journey that many people are taking, and we have met some of them. I wondered how it must feel for a child, who has no voice in her parents' decision, to leave one country for another. I wondered, but I had to trust my own life experiences and my imagination. However, I could not have written this book without the real Imani and her lovely family. Her mother, Julie, was my guardian angel. She made certain that I stayed true to the culture of both countries. She corrected and added to my French. She encouraged me when I felt completely overwhelmed by the task that I had undertaken. Of my three books, this one is the most important. No, there are no mice, like in The Adventures of Orie the Orpheum Mouse or Jump, Drew, Jump! This book must stand on its own. It just might make a difference in the lives of the readers. Perhaps, we will become a little more understanding, more welcoming, or even more inquisitive about people with different backgrounds and lives. The one thing that I know for sure is that together, we are better. Bonjour!
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