Unlocking “book published” is a massively multiplayer achievement. Both this novel and I owe a great debt to Sarah Evans, who first hatched the plot to create this book and followed through with editorial expertise, creativity, and patience. Chris Danger’s art and Christopher Stengel’s design direction brought not just the cover but many of the pages to life.

The rest of the Scholastic team, including production editor Emily Cullings; copy editor Daniel Letchworth; proofreaders Gabriel Rumbaut, Maya Frank-Levine, and Lindsay Walter-Greaney; and Kirk Howle and Joanna Gras in manufacturing, were all vital in bringing this book to its final form. I would also like to acknowledge Ellie Berger, Lori Benton, Nelson Gomez, David Levithan, and Abby McAden for their support of this amazing opportunity, and Rachel Griffiths for giving me my first shot at getting published just a few years ago. In addition, the teams all across Scholastic Trade, Book Clubs, and Book Fairs have been incredible both for believing in this project and helping make it a reality.

In the world outside of Scholastic, I would like to thank Ash Byrnes, Carrie Brown, and Keith Fretz for reading versions of this manuscript, as well as Grace Kendall, Laura and Michael Bisberg, Laura Jean Ridge, and Nick Eliopulos for their feedback on its early stages. There are pieces of your inspiration and imagination throughout. And I must especially thank Mallory Kass—you built me up and have had the generosity not to destroy me.

To my many friends and family members, in New York and spread across the world, thank you for sharing your lives, your wisdom, and your laughter. And finally, to my nuclear family Yorke, Carrie, Galen, and Christine: thank you for being my fusion-powered core.

Thank you all for joining my adventuring party on the journey that led to Josh Baxter Levels Up. Say the word and I’ll unlock my vault, grab my gear, and ride out to join your quests.

This concludes my emotions. Please turn the page to enjoy my biography and a moderately smug photo.