Acknowledgments

I imagine that when you found this book, it was propped up on a “Young Adult Fiction” shelf, or arbitrarily ranked on a website under “Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense.” In fact, there’s a good chance you found it somewhere else entirely, since this seems to be one of those books that doesn’t quite fit anywhere.

In truth, it’s a love story. It started with a spark of an idea, a flash of an image: two sisters clinging to each other through the biting wind and insurmountable odds. My very first critique partner, Michelle Levy, asked all the right questions in order to bring Claire and Ella Graham to life. Michelle, you are wonderful.

I cannot even begin to express my gratitude to my agent, Victoria Marini, for loving Claire Graham as fiercely as I do. Your patience, guidance, and devotion to this book and my career have been my anchor, and your encouragement and willingness to push me are what continue to propel me forward. To my editor, Brian Farrey-Latz: thank you for understanding exactly what I envisioned for this story, and for plucking that image straight out of my heart and mind onto the cover of this book. To my team at Flux: Mallory Hayes, Sandy Sullivan, and everyone else who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring the best version of this book into the world: thank you, thank you.

I am continually humbled by the love and support I’ve received from my critique partners and beta readers. Thank you to Leigh Ann Kopans, Jamie Grey, Megan Orsini, Dahlia Adler, Kelsey Macke, Amanda Olivieri, and a million others for reading and championing the early version of this book. Thank you to my sisters at The Secret Life of Writers—Heather, Stefanie, Leah, Kelsey, Farrah, and Alex—for the endless cheerleading. And thank you to my street team and the writing community in general, for your constant glitter cannons and goodwill.

To my advanced composition teacher, Mrs. Thomas: You probably never realized the effect you had when you told me you were going to use my essay as an example in class. Now you do. I also could not have done this without the beautiful people in my life: Kristen Jett, you are my guiding star; Hay Farris, you are my sun; Megan Whitmer, you are my breath of fresh air. Marilyn, Kristie, Matt C., Sarah G., Tracy: you are everything in between.

To my dad, for giving me a love of literature, and to my mom, for giving me a sense of adventure and the courage to follow it. To my brother, Zack, for loving me through all the late-night revisions and making your own dinner with only a little bit of complaining. I love you. To my soul sisters and very best friends, Keri Grieve and Sarah Slayton. I don’t have a biological sister, but if I did, I would hope she would be exactly like you both.

And to Matt, my husband. Being a writer’s spouse is not a glamorous job. There are numerous nights of cereal for dinner, piles of laundry that will never get folded, and too many hours of caring for small children to give me creative space. You’ve done all this brilliantly, but I’m most thankful for that first conversation we had several years ago, the one where I said, “I’m going to write a book.” And you said, “Of course you are.” I love you.