ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

THANK YOU:

FOR MAKING THIS BOOK

Kelsey Sears, for getting up early with the kids so I could stay up late and write

Nina Jeppesen, my first and gentlest reader

Lily Holgate, for helping me find my voice and being a hard ass in the kindest possible way

Lee Cyphers, for making me sound smarterer

Sheila Silver, for her relentless championing of me

Dave and Carol Krehbiel, my tag-team, safe-place, two-part patronus

FOR READING AND GUIDING MY WRITING

Veronica Alvarado, Elizabeth Ballantyne, Sharon Boorstin, Reiko Davies, Kate Elliott, Sabina Thatcher, Elizabeth Flemming, John Gattis, Sue Heineman, Tommy Johnson, Krista Kaufman, Nick Lyons, Laura Marostica, Julie Miesionczek, Anette Naumann, Dan Paget, Gena Rapps, Peggy Fletcher Stack, Laura Weiner, Keve Wilson

TO THE VILLAGE

Mayor and Auntie, Marie Ellsworth

Behavioral Health Services North

Plattsburgh City School District

Plattsburgh YMCA

Plattsburgh Public Library

Seton Catholic

UVM Pediatric Neurology

Pat Cordes, Andrea Ogle, Benn Rymon, Marilyn Reynolds,

and our neighbors on the US Oval

TO ALL OF OUR TUTORS

(in order of appearance)

Tommy J., Leroy B., John M., Marie C., Lucy B., Jen M., Kelsey S., Jen C., Vicky B., Donna K., Rachel C., Casey C., Amanda T., Beza W., Eunice O., Monica H., Ally E., Carly C., Lily H., Lorenzo K., Owen L., Joelle T., Jessica L., Liam M., John O., Erik E., Mariel L., Julian C., Katy R.

TO THOSE WHOSE MUSIC SAVED MY MORTAL SOUL

Renée Allen, Ray Anderson, Andy Bove, Ken Cooper, Lacina Coulibaly, Stefania DeKennesy, Debra Dine, Rachel Drehmann, Wayne DuMaine, Suzanne Farrin, Matt Fieldes, Annamae Goldstein, Marianne Gythfeldt, Sue Heineman, Lily Holgate, Dan Paget, Lew Soloff, Jo-Anne Sternberg, Sabina Thatcher, Mark Timmerman, Keve Wilson, Pascal Von Wroblewsky, and to Brian Pertl and the Lawrentians

TO MY LIFELINE

My family relations, my besties

TO MY HEROES

Ruby, Jimmy, Jason, Susie, Anthony, and Audrey

AND TO D.J.W.

The love of my life