A huge thanks first and foremost to my agent, the indomitable Kate McKean, for giving me the opportunity to work on this project. Thanks also to Andrew Harwell and the team at HarperCollins for making this book possible, and for his creativity, generosity, and guidance. To my family for being patient and supportive (Mom, Pops, Nick, Tristan, Julie, Gwen, and Dom). My gratitude, as always, to the professors who inspired me to reach (Fran, Steve, Rod, Chris, Lisa) and to my high school teachers for making my teenage years much happier than Dan’s (Larry, Adrienne, Naomi).

My thanks and apologies to Beloit College for being the physical inspiration for New Hampshire College—thanks for the inspiring layout and apologies for being turned into a haunted campus.

And last but certainly not least, to the friends who propped me up and kicked my ass when I had bad days: to Kai (too much to name—company, support, dinner, and Doctor Who, giver of Appa and maker of monitor Plops), Taylor (aka My Least Favorite Son, support, friendship, laughter, patience, cat pictures, and gossip), Jeremy and Christi (lifesavers!), Anna and Nicholas (and their little ones), Maria, and Kimber (those mice belonged to you, m’dear, even if they apparently drowned).