RONA ARATO is a former teacher and an award-winning author of over fifteen books for children and young adults, including fiction, non-fiction, and historical fiction. Her books have won numerous awards including the Norma Fleck Award for best Canadian children's non-fiction book of 2014, the Red Cedar, Red Maple, and Rocky Mountain Awards (for The Last Train), and the 2011 Golden Oak Award (for Courage and Compassion: Ten Canadians that Made a Difference). Her book, The Ship to Nowhere, was designated a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Older Children by the Association of Jewish Libraries. Rona is a frequent speaker at schools and community organizations. Rona lives in Toronto, Ontario.