I am infinitely grateful for all of the wonderful people i have had the opportunity to meet and work with during the course of writing and publishing this book. The journey from rant-filled journal to polished manuscript was a powerful one, and i couldn’t imagine making it without the assistance and support of so many.

I would like to thank Margaret Stohl—for her constant willingness to help, her advice, and her friendship—as well as Stephan Pastis, for reading that original manuscript and thinking enough of it to pass it on. Also, I owe a lot to Nick Staller and Ryan Hermosura, who believed in the message of the book strongly enough to drop everything and promote it. Shout out to the Hardys and Montoyas for their encouragement and for keeping the secret.

Then of course, I must mention my outstanding publishing people. I would like to thank Dani Calotta, for creating such a beautiful book design and allowing me to be part of the process that breathed life into the pages. Deborah Kaplan was a spectacular, fun, and generous art director (thank you for the clothes!). Rosanne Lauer saved my (four) bum(s) with her mad copyediting skills by catching mistakes many sets of eyes had missed. I am extremely grateful for Elyse Marshall who kept me from getting lost, rocks high heels, is an amazing friend, and still finds time to be the world’s best publicist. Julie Strauss-Gabel did breathtaking work as editor, sent me books (yay books!), and helped me grow as a writer. It was so much fun to work with her and see her vision for the manuscript from the very beginning. And she was right, Penguin does have the cutest logo. Thank you to my entire kick-butt Penguin family (which is pretty much the coolest bunch of people ever).

Lucy Stille helped to bring the story to a whole new audience, and Cecilia de la Campa is working to get Popular all over the globe. It’s been a dream come true seeing that my work will be published in places I have always dreamed of visiting. Daniel Lazar, my phenomenal agent, deserves a standing ovation for always going above and beyond, replying to e-mails and phone calls pretty much 24/7, and being there for me every step of the process. Plus he’s a great editor and an awesome person.

I am so grateful for all the teachers who pushed me to be better, helped me to improve, and inspired me to dream. This started early with Ms. Hunter, the elementary school teacher who taught me how much fun literature could be. Ms. Corbeil helped me survive those last two years of middle school. Librarians do change the world, one book recommendation at a time. And of course Mr. Lawrence who gave his best to me and all of his students. Every time I sit down at my computer, I strive to prove him right.

The Statesboro community has been overflowing in their support and enthusiasm. Although I am not a Georgia girl by birth, they have made me feel incredibly welcome and loved. I would also like to voice my appreciation for my fantastic uncle Eric Van Wagenen, who was always just a phone call away. Without him, I never would have had the courage to go about getting this published. My grandparents Richard and Sherry Van Wagenen were also incredibly helpful, by taking me out of the will every time I failed to produce the next chapter. It was their impatient phone calls, loving threats, and phenomenal pep talks that kept me writing in my most frustrated moments. My love goes out to all of my glorious aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and great-grandparents who read the manuscript, sent pictures, and shared in this part of my life. My heart is full of appreciation for Betsy and Bruce Fadem, as well, who welcomed me as part of their family.

I appreciate my wonderful siblings: loving Brodie, funny Natalia, and sweet Ariana, for their profound influence on my life. I am indebted to Michael Scott Van Wagenen, my father, for finding the book and never getting rid of it, for locating Betty, and for being there with support and advice whenever I needed it. Thanks to Monica Delgado Van Wagenen, my mother, for coming up with the idea and spending so many hours reading and discussing with me (even at three o’clock in the morning). I am truly blessed with a wonderful set of parents.

I am so grateful to the many students at my school, who are the very real characters behind this story. I am so happy to have had that time in Brownsville, Texas. This adventure couldn’t have unfolded like it did anywhere else.

And thank you, Betty Cornell.
Thank you for everything.