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Copyright © 2024 by Sarah Smarsh

“Rural Route” was originally published in National Geographic, Copyright © National Geographic Partners, LLC., all rights reserved. All essays originally published in the New York Times are used under license, Copyright © The New York Times Company, all rights reserved. “The New Migrants” is used with permission, Copyright © The Texas Observer.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Scribner Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Scribner hardcover edition September 2024

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Simon & Schuster: Celebrating 100 Years of Publishing in 2024

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For more information about the author or to book her for an event, visit www.sarahsmarsh.com.

Interior design by Alexis Minieri

Jacket design by Tristan Offit

Jacket Art: Autumn cornfield by Jim Musil; Back cover photograph by Ilana Panich-Linsman

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for.

ISBN 978-1-6680-5560-1

ISBN 978-1-6680-5561-8 (ebook)