title: The Survival of the Gingerbread Girl
author:  Illana Barran 
description: <span>Illana Barran is an author and illustrator. She was inspired to write this classic, musical adaption while singing stories to her young daughter. Singing, she found, calmly helps a child go to sleep at nap time, bedtime or just because it's fun. She is also the illustrator of The Yellow Star by Aaron Seth. Illana is an avid, artist who teaches beginning, painting classes to young students. Illana resides in Connecticut with her family.</span>
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  THE
  
  
    
  
  
  GINGERBREAD  
  
  
  MAN  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  Maggie Shayne  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  Author's Note  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  In New York State, the death penalty was reinstated in September of 1995. For
  the purposes of this novel, 1 have pushed that date back in my fictional world
  to 1993.  
  
  
    
  
  
  This novel deals with issues of child abuse. If you would like more
  information on how you can help protect our children, visit the Center for
  Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com.  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  ONE  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  "Are my children still alive?" Sara Prague asked the question in a quiet,
  steady voice that he heard  
  
  
  very clearly despite the noise around her. Cops coming and going, keyboards
  clicking, phones ringing.  
  
  
  She looked haggard. Hard. She hadn't always, Vince figured. The worry lines
  bracketing her eyes, her mouth, the dry skin, the chapped lips, the sense that
  she really didn't give a damn wha