My wife Sandra and I had met Ibrahim Mahmoud (Abe), who owns Jo-Jo's Pizza, located at the Mayberry Square, in Sylvania, Ohio. I had signed a copy of my book, TIBBY AND HIS FRIEND'S BIG SECRET, for Alaa, Abe's young daughter. A couple of weeks later we were at Jo-Jo's, enjoying a pizza, when Abe surprised me by requesting that I write his family's life story. I did so, and the result is FLEEING A COUNTRY SEEKING A NEW LIFE, the book you now hold. As you read Mike and Abe's compelling stories, I hope you will understand how fortunate we are to live in America, this wonderful land of freedom, to have an education, be able to work, and an opportunity to achieve prosperity.