Barbara's Comments "Real life has always been the inspiration for my books. The Summer I Dared took root soon after September 11, 2001. We were initially focused on those who died, but the term 'victim' quickly broadened to include those whose lives were directly touched by the tragedy of that day. Other tragedies, including the killings by the D.C. snipers, egged me on. Yes, I know. We've already had movies where the hero survives the plane crash and starts acting immortal. I felt there had to be other reactions. There are. Julia Bechtel and Noah Prine, the protagonists of The Summer I Dared, experienced them. These characters aren't super-human; they're people like you and me, who experience something unique. Their search for self-understanding and their need for growth struck a chord in me."