To Jill Santopolo, for seeing everything this book could be, and giving such inspiring notes from the very start. You have been so considerate and kind, which has made for a wonderful debut experience. I feel extremely lucky to call you my editor. Also thanks to Michael Green, Talia Benamy, Anne Heausler, Cindy Howle, Kristin Smith, Siobhan Gallagher, Semadar Megged, Lori Thorn, and everyone at Philomel and Penguin Young Readers who had a hand in turning this story into a real-thing-I-can-actually-hold. You are all truly awesome.
To my parents, Frank and Marianne Rogers, for supporting me in every way, and always knowing I’d end up here. Also, for giving me entirely too much power as a child. No, seriously—I’m pretty sure it’s the reason I never doubted I had the power to make this happen.
To my sister, Katie Rogers, for being so imaginative with me as we were growing up. For always believing in me and sharing my love of stories. For accepting that I am both the bossy and annoying sister. And for tolerating the singing wake-up calls, messy toothpaste tubes, blaring music in my car, and all of the things. You really do put up with a lot—but I think we can both agree that it’s so much more fun this way. Right? Yeah, I thought so.
To my cousins Shannon Rogers, Hunter Brutsche, Erin Rogers, Kellsey Rogers, and Seamus Rogers, who have always been more like siblings. Thanks for dreaming big with me, guys! You can officially start thinking about your rooms! (It just may be a while before you get them.)
Extra thanks to Hunter for answering every call, text, and question, and for teaching me what I needed to know to write this. There is not enough space here to completely describe how much you’ve helped me (but I’ll add more in the next book, because I need your help with that, too).
Thanks to my grandparents Ellen Civatte, John Civatte, and Joan Rogers, for being the original biggest fans, and doing so much to inspire my imagination. To my aunts and uncles, Nancy Brutsche, Joan Latshaw, Dave Latshaw, Claire Mann, Dave Mann, Jimmy Rogers, and Colleen Rogers, along with my cousins Josh Latshaw and Jeremy Latshaw for being so supportive and sharing all of this with me. I’m so glad you are all my family. Additionally, thanks to Lisa Rice, Kevin Rice, Lauren Rice, Lindsay Rice, Kevin Rice, Trish Carman, Chic Carman, Jerry Keil, and Paula Keil, for always taking an interest and redefining the term extended family. It means so much to me!
To Jessie Furia for fighting so hard against that awful idea. You changed the entire direction of the series for the better—Jocelyn has her strength because of you. And to Dana Celona for every detailed and thoughtful comment. And for understanding the importance and delight of torturing characters. You were the ally I needed.
To Maggie McGrath for being so enthusiastic, for questioning all the right things, and for being my friend for the past eleven years. Thank you for giving this and all of my books so much of your time and attention. You are unquestionably my person.
To my friends Susan Murphy and Mark Murphy (and their daughter Shannon Murphy) for the years of employment prior to this, and for believing in me as much as my own family. And to Jenn Lacko and Caitlin Naylor, for showing up at my house with champagne the night I got my agent, and for a lifetime of imagination and inspiration. It means everything to have you two on my side.
To Carla Spataro, Randall Brown, Richard Bank, and everyone at Rosemont College for developing such a solid MFA program. I learned so much in my time there. Also to my college writing instructors, Jim Kain and Joe Glass, for teaching awesome classes and proving that taking classes in writing wouldn’t ruin the experience for me (it was something I was seriously concerned about at the time).
To all of the students I had the pleasure of working with during my time at Springfield High School, especially: Alex DeLuca, Alicia LeSage, Brianna Fox, Michael Strolli, Megan Yates, Dan Madonna, Bryan Biehl, Richie Brown, Steven Russo, James Leahan, Bradley Lord, Kevin Swanick, Danny Swanick, Jimmy Swanick, Heather Sinkerton, Jack Schott, Steve Reger, Ryan Joyce, Mike Dougherty, Lou DiMichele, Nick Santana, Bill Flaherty, and Aysha Ray-Walker. I am better for knowing each of you.
Special thanks to: Dan Ketler, Vince Marra, and Pat McKnight for being a constant source of optimism and inspiration. To Amanda Brown for always being in my corner. And to Davis Caramanico for your superior naming skills and for taking an interest from the beginning.
Likewise, thanks to Zac Ondo for being the original noodle, letting me borrow your word, and making sure I got it right. Also for being so invested and always caring about what I was working on. Thanks to Courtney O’Connell (Courto!) for being one of the first people in my target audience to read my first novel. Your belief and enthusiasm helped me get here.
And, of course, thank you to Sam Mola for being yourself and inspiring so much of this story. When I started planning this, I had no intentions of giving any of the students in Jocelyn’s class too big of a role. You inspired not only a character, but an entire direction for this story and I can’t thank you enough for that.
Thanks to Vicky Rostovich, Adriana Lecuona, Mercedes Huff, Mary Pat Bowman, Mary Schwingen, Sharon Smith, Patricia Reynolds, Diane McGinty, Elise Woods, Mary Ann Clifford, Yvette Goslin, Jill Keithly, Gladys Ramirez-Wrease, and everyone at DCCC who I have been lucky enough to call colleagues. Your support has been overwhelming and is so appreciated. Nkenge Daniels, thank for reading and always talking writing with me (and for being so adorable!). And Emily Irwin, thank you for being such a self-aware human disaster. (I haven’t made proper use of this yet, but I will!) And also for caring, and continually thinking all of this is so cool.
To all of the Sixteen to Read and Sweet Sixteen members I have had the chance to get to know over this past year. Sharing this journey with you has been everything!
And last, to the two people who have impacted my creative life more than anyone or anything else:
Andrea Ridgley, thank you for being SO EXCITED when I decided publication was a goal back when we were in ninth grade, and for understanding, so completely, what it’s like to create. For seeing the strengths in every first draft and seeming to know what the story is supposed to be long before I do. You are the absolute best first reader and an even better friend. My work and my life would be so much worse off without you.
And Denise Mroz, thank you for saying “yes” my junior year. For giving me a place in your room and in your life. For believing this would happen with such certainty, that it truly felt inevitable. For being the Lois to my Chloe. For showing me that pigs can fly, and Mrogers can make anything happen. I don’t know who I’d be or what I’d be doing without you, but I know it wouldn’t be this—which means I would be utterly miserable.
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Crossing the Line Page 31