I shook my head, but I was still smiling and I bent over my notebook to write, Is it very difficult to learn? I loved learning and even though I wasn't always happy to be sitting in a desk at school -- I got very restless some days and couldn't wait for gym class -- I was happy to be there.

Learning another language seemed daunting, but it would be nice for Regan if she could communicate with people somehow other than writing. And there were no Many-Eyed to kill here, no pirates to fight. A different sort of challenge would be just the thing.

Are there books to teach me? I added.