In case you are wondering if any of this is scientifically possible: I don’t know. I haven’t gone out into a lightning storm and tested it—and I don’t recommend you do that either! What I do know is that it is a work of fiction. Real scientific theories provided the foundation for Tiny, Nathaniel, Lu, and Will’s story, and I took it from there. Many thanks (and maybe apologies) to the brilliant minds who inspired my own imagination:
Albert Einstein, for the epigraph at the beginning of this book, and for the theory of relativity, with which I took many creative liberties.
Arthur C. Clarke and Carl Sagan, for their beautiful ideas about the infinite possibilities of the universe, quoted on page 306 and on pages 325 and 365, respectively.
Patricia Lawler Kenet gave me a copy of Physics: Why Matter Matters! by Dan Green and Simon Basher, which reminded me of most of what I’d forgotten from Mr. Condie’s high school physics class. I am forever thankful that a book with so many amazing science puns exists, and to Patricia for giving it to me.
The MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Studies website provided inspiration for Tobias’s fictional academic interests. National Geographic and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provided useful information about lightning.
Though he was not a scientist, thank you to William Shakespeare, for so many things, but in this case for the quotes on pages 138, 141, and 236.
* * *
The odds of writing a book without any help at all are virtually impossible. Thank you, thank you, thank you, to:
Writing teacher extraordinaire and all-around publishing guardian angel Micol Ostow, in whose YA novel workshop I wrote the first full draft of this book. And to my classmates Darci Manley, Shani Petroff, and Anna Hecker, for insightful notes and hearts in the margins, without which I might never have made it past that first workshop.
Jessica Regel, my amazing agent, for getting this book from the first read and continuing to champion it for all the reads after that. I’m so lucky to have you in my corner.
My magical editors at Simon Pulse—Sara Sargent, Liesa Abrams, and Nicole Ellul—whose guidance pushed me to write the book I’d been trying to write all along. To Karina Granda, for designing the actual cover of my dreams.
The generous editors and friends who have given me notes along the way, especially Tara Weikum, Jen Klonsky, and Katie Bellas.
Sarah Barnard, for going on random ill-advised high school adventures with me, and for giving me the copy of Ned Vizzini’s Be More Chill that made me want to be a YA writer.
Jillian Schlesinger, for sharing my brain and knowing what it’s like to have a crazy idea and then see it through to completion. Alissa Weiss, for always asking, always listening, always being up for talking it through. The whole story is long and complicated.
BP, for fifteen years (and counting!) of lunchtime chats.
The Batesies: I can’t remember what life was like before we were friends.
My writing pals, Anne Heltzel, Leila Sales, Rebecca Serle, Lexa Hillyer, Jess Rothenberg, Jackie Resnick, Danielle Rollins, and Alyssa Sheinmel. Knowing we’re all in it together makes the hard parts less hard and the fun parts way more fun.
My incredible family: Shelby Davies, for being the most special bug; Jody and Lee Davies, for teaching me the importance of imagination; and Sandra Messler, for displaying everything I’ve ever written on your coffee table and for buying me my first issue of Seventeen.
Jeremy Kestenbaum, for being the cocreator of the world’s best pizza, but most of all for being you.