"Nancy Springer is a gifted fantasist whose work consistently improves," Catherine M. Currier asserted in Twentieth-Century Science-Fiction Writers, "growing stronger and more subtle with each new publication, and whose range is expanding in both audience and excitement." Not only has Springer shifted from traditional heroic tales to more contemporary fantasy, she has expanded into realistic works for children, often focusing on horses. All of her works, however, display an emphasis on character, whether they deal with a hero's quest to save the world or a teen's search for identity and friendship. As a result, her books have been distinguished not only by critics and peers, including the Science Fiction Writers of America and the Mystery Writers of America, but also by the young adult readers who have nominated her work for readers' choice awards. "For me, at least, fiction writing has always started with ... two things: people (fictional...