Kids of Appetite

by David Arnold

  (For more information about Moebius syndrome, go to moebiussyndrome.org, or visit the supreme awesomeness that is the Many Faces of Moebius Syndrome Facebook page.)

  Likewise, while the Kabongo brothers are a work of fiction, many of their experiences are based on historical events. From 1997 to 1999, the Second Republic of the Congo Civil War saw thousands of Congolese citizens killed or displaced—among the latter were the Kinzounzas.

  For some years I had the privilege of working with Gigi Kinzounza, and while I knew she and her family were from the Republic of the Congo, devout Christians, and devoted teachers, I knew few details of their past. Until I asked. Through conversations, e-mails, and an in-home interview (which I will never forget), I heard their remarkable story. Baz and Nzuzi’s exile from the Republic of the Congo, their time spent in the DRC refugee camps, and a few misconceptions of them here in the States are largely informed by my interviews with the Kinzounzas. I cannot thank them enough for their time, for answering my questions, for reading drafts of this manuscript, but most of all for having the courage to speak about something I could never begin to truly understand. To Raymond, Gigi, Natey, Siama, and Kutia (Abigail)—my heartfelt thanks.

  I would also like to thank Patrick Litanga, for valuable insight, and for sharing some of his own experiences with me; and Darko Mihaylovich and Colin Triplett at Catholic Charities for their time in helping me better understand the refugee resettlement process.

  To each of you, I offer a resounding mountaintop thank you.

  —David Arnold

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  To my family, Arnolds and Wingates alike, you guys are seriously the bee’s knees. So thanks for that. And everything, really.

  Thanks to Ken Wright and Alex Ulyett at Viking, who, in addition to making me a better writer and person, are in fact magical unicorns of wisdom and benevolence. Thanks to my Penguin family: Elyse Marshall for generally ruling; Theresa Evangelista (cover design) and Yuschav Arly (illustration) for knocking this cover out of the park; Kate Renner (interior design); Dana Leydig; Jen Loja; Allan Winebarger; Tara Shanahan for the Hackensack knowledge; fabulous copyeditors Janet Pascal, Abigail Powers, Krista Ahlberg, and Kaitlin Severini; and John Dennany for being an excellent road companion and friend.

  Thanks to my incredible agent, Dan Lazar (also a magical unicorn), and to everyone at Writers House who has had a hand in this story: Torie Doherty-Munro, James Munro, Soumeya Bendimerad Roberts, Cecilia de la Campa, and Angharad Kowal. Thanks to my film agent, Josie Freeman, and all at ICM.

  Thanks to the following kids for having serious appetite: Courtney Stevens, Ashley Schwartau, Erica Rodgers, Josh Bledsoe, Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, Sarah Brown, Lauren Thoman, Victoria Schwab, Ashley Blake, Nicki Yoon, Emery Lord, Kerry Kletter, Rae Ann Parker, Dhonielle Clayton, Jeff Zentner, Daniel Lee, Kurt Hampe, Kate Hattemer, Ruta Sepetys, Sabaa Tahir, Renée Ahdieh, Brooks Benjamin, Gwenda Bond, Sarah Combs, Megan Whitmer, and Dave Connis; Stephanie Appell and all at Parnassus Books in Nashville; Amanda Connor and Trish Murphy at Joseph-Beth Booksellers; Wyn Morris and all at the Morris Book Shop; everyone at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning; my sister-in-law, Michelle, and Jennifer Heidgerd, for their racehorse expertise; everyone at North Lime Coffee and Donuts; Carl Meier and the good people at Black Abbey; Dan Garcia, for his vast knowledge of all things art; the dream factory otherwise known as the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (scbwi.org); Marge and all at the late, great Harley’s Irish Pub in Hackensack; Meg, Perry, and Chris at Fresh & Fancy Farms in New Milford (fresh andfancyfarms.com); and a certain dormant submarine who sparked an early idea—you know who you are, you sexy thing, you.

  Thanks to my beckminavidera kids: Jazzy Wargs, Becky “Just-Put-Down-the-Double-Stuf-and-No-One-Gets-Hurt” Albertalli, and Adam Silvera-Arnold. You guys save me every day. And I love you. (Romantically, I mean.)

  Thanks to Sergeant Eric Hobson, Robbery/Homicide Unit, and Detective Billy Salyer, Forensic Services Unit, from the Lexington Police Department for lending their time and expertise.

  Thanks to Gary Mac Smith and Bunny Welch, who (in addition to the respective publishers) graciously permitted me the use of their son’s work. Elliott Smith is one of my heroes if it wasn’t pretty obvious, and I am beyond thrilled to have his lyrics included in my book.

  Thanks to S. E. Hinton for getting me caught in the Vortex. I’m still there, actually.

  Over the past year and a half, I’ve met countless librarians and booksellers who have absolutely leveled me with their knowledge of books, yes, but more importantly, with their ability to get the right books into the right hands at the right times. I would be aimlessly wandering the tall grass without you guys, and I think I speak for most authors when I say THANK YOU. A million times over.

  I mentioned them in the author’s note, but it never hurts to say thanks twice: Roland Bienvenu, Leslie Dhaseleer, Daphne Honma, Sheyenne Owens, Vicki McCarrell, everyone at the Moebius Syndrome Foundation, and the Many Faces of Moebius Syndrome Facebook page; the entire Kinzounza family—Gigi, Raymond, Natey, Siama, and Kutia (Abigail); Patrick Litanga; and Darko Mihaylovich and Colin Triplett at Catholic Charities—THANK YOU.

  Lastly, thanks to Stephanie and Wingate. I’m a big believer in the power of words, but sometimes there are none. The only four that come close: I love you two.

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