ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thank-you to the amazing Penguin Workshop team, my agent Caryn Wiseman, illustrator Vanessa Brantley Newton, all of my family and friends who helped me on this journey, and the following experts: Kevin G. Stewart, Associate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Dr. Chris Tacker, Research Curator in Geology, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences; and Walt Milowic of the Tar Heel Gem & Mineral Club.