Horace Hobart is the new kid on the block in New York City and he's scared. His sister warns that the scary Purple Falcon Gang is going to cream him. He puts on his wild uncle's dragon jacket, covers a sty with an eye-patch and swaggers out. Through an amazing coincidence in the first hour of school, he takes the name ACE and fools the Falcons. Then Ace falls for Raven, the Falcons' beautiful buddy. Looking tough now, he's recruited to act in a low-budget film and gets parts for his new friends. During a night shoot, one of the Falcons disappears when the Piranha Gang disrupts the filming. Ace has to confront the bloodthirsty bunch to get the kid back. Then he has to figure a way to stop wearing the sweaty eye-patch in front of his friends. Even if you're NEVER SCARED like Ace was, you can read this book just for laughs. Barbara, a former actress, is the author of ACE FLIES LIKE AN EAGLE (ALA Best Books for Reluctant Readers), MIGUEL LOST and FOUND IN THE PALACE (winner of the Zia Award from the New Mexico Press Women's Association and first in a series of novels on the New Mexico State Museums) and TRIPPING THE RUNNER, ANNIE AND THE ANIMALS, and ANNIE AT THE RANCH. She received the Christopher Award and, in addition to a busy writing schedule, participates in a program of building homes for the poor in Mexico. She lives in Santa Fe. Judie grew up in Montana and Idaho and had a short childhood career as a pet funeral director. As a teenager, her list of short careers multiplied: life guard (2 ? days), elevator operator, movie extra, model, typist (6 hours), and carhop. She attended schools in Mexico and Spain, but graduated from an American university, taught school, then wentglobetrotting. Among her written works are seven scripts for the TV series, THE SPIRIT OF '76, and six novels, including the hilarious WALLY, and the much-loved HAPPILY EVER AFTER.ALMOST. She lives in Santa Fe and works supporting a group that brings beautiful music to her community.