Great Post! I would like to mention you, you books and point people to your full post on my Writing and Illustrating blog. Please let me know if this does not work for you. Who’s you editor at Little, Brown?
They have been putting out some wonderful books.

Kathy

I personally know a half dozen agent-author “divorces” that have happened in the last six months. Some agent-initiated, some author-initiated. One thing we all have to keep in mind is that the publishing industry isn’t the same as it was a year ago. Everything takes longer, and expectations on both sides need to be modified accordingly.

I’m not able to critique your query letter, but there are lots of resources and groups online that might be able to help you. Try googling query letter critiques, or check out some of the popular YA agent blogs like http://pubrants.blogspot.com and http://blog.nathanbransford.com/ for sample queries and critiques. I know Miss Snark used to do crits but her blog is no longer active – you might still find good info in the archives. Finally, check out your local chapter of SCBWI at http://www.scbwi.org/ for info about in person writing groups that might help you.

In terms of prologues, forwards, and epilogues, it really just depends on the story. I haven’t seen forwards in fiction – I think that’s more fore introducing and endorsing a nonfiction work. Prologues in fiction are generally used to provide background information necessary for the story that doesn’t otherwise work in the story itself, like an event that happened years before the story open or with other characters who are not the main characters in the book. Epilogues are used similarly at the end to tie up loose ends or reflect on how things worked out after the close of the main story. They’re not necessary for all books — it really just depends on the individual story and how the author wants to tell it.

Thanks again for stopping by and good luck with your agent search!