“Jim Thomas provokes and inspires. He brings out his writer’s best intentions—intentions the author may not even have been aware of. He reads and parses, goes back, combs, relates, asks why, remembers where you were before, prods and sometimes spears, remarks recurrent themes and arcs, sometimes suggests some, roots out the languorous, and bridles the errant hobby horses. He’s rigorous like a drill sergeant readying his troops for battle. His bubbles-in-the-margins technique is unavoidable, not like the usual editorial letter one opens like something from a doctor and puts away for later reading. He talks to you incessantly, peskily, helpfully, inescapably. He’s the best, the real thing.”

—Alan Armstrong, Newbery Honor-winning author of Whittington