by Abby Cooper
Just like that, all thirty pairs of eyes, even Mr. Todd’s, shifted over to her. But that was fine. Maybe she needed the attention more than I did. I just needed to be. And now that I was out in the open, I really, truly could.
I glanced to my right. Jeg was the only one still watching me.
“You really look good,” she said in a whisper. “It’s cool that you can just, I dunno, show that to everybody. And not have to follow rules about what you look like and what you wear. And not care what everyone else thinks.”
She fiddled with something around her neck, then dropped the charm so it was dangling over her shirt, right where I could see it.
It was the peace sign necklace. Our peace sign necklace.
But as quickly as it appeared, she tucked it away.
“Jeg…” I was whispering, too. Something about the conversation felt like a secret, and something about that made me feel really brave. “It kinda hurt my feelings when you started hanging out with the Loud Crowd instead of me. And then when you told them about me and Liam at the beginning of the year…”
“Yeah, I know … I’m sorry.” She sighed quietly. “I just wanted more people, you know? And they started talking to me all of a sudden and it was exciting. And my parents started traveling more this summer and not taking me with them as much. Only sometimes. I guess I got kinda lonely.”
“But you had me!”
“But I wanted more than you.”
That one hit me like a soccer ball to the gut.
“I don’t mean it in a bad way,” she said. “I just mean I wanted more than one really good friend, that’s all.”
“But…” I paused. “I mean, don’t you think it’s sorta weird that they started wanting to hang out with you right around the time your parents got even more rich and famous?”
“That was just a coincidence. They like me. And they’re really not that bad when you get to know them.”
“Oh … okay. Well, if you ever wanna hang out again, we can.”
Jeg smiled at me, then took out a little mirror from her purse and did something to her face. When she looked back at me, her expression was totally different. It was like she had been hypnotized into being honest for a second and looking in the mirror had broken the spell. She shrugged and said, “Yeah, maybe. I’ll text you sometime. Totes miss you.” Then she got up to join the crowd over by Ami’s desk.
I hoped that that wouldn’t be another text I’d be waiting forever for, like the one Liam promised that never came.
But it might be. And weirdly, that was good enough for now.
“Totes miss you more,” I whispered to myself.
37
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE ITCHY
Dear Elyse,
Today I decided to look back at this notebook and read what I’d written. September seems like years and years ago, but it wasn’t really. But so much has happened since then.
I wish I could go back and warn myself: Mr. Todd didn’t write the notes. Stand up for yourself. Bring an extra flashlight on the Minnesota trip. Don’t drink two cups of cocoa before your Saturday-morning walk.
But you know what? I probably wouldn’t have listened to my own advice.
Here are the goals you listed in your September letter:
1. Stop thinking about the folded paper until I can finally open it after class.
Fail!
2. Stop obsessing over Liam, because he is done liking me.
Fine, because I am finally over that darn guy. On to the next relationship.
3. Instead, obsess over boys like Nice Andy who do seem to like me.
Or obsess over no boys. It was super fun being liked, but just because Nice Andy liked me didn’t mean I needed to like him back. But it’s fun having Andy as a really good friend, too. It’s so weird how someone’s annoying things can turn into funny, cool things if you change how you look at the person. Now I don’t mind going to Soup Palace with him, if he asks. And it’s pretty fun, in addition to being delicious. Seriously, how do people make beef stew that amazing?
4. Stop thinking about the folded blue paper until it’s time to open it. (But for real this time, because I totally didn’t stop the first time I told myself to stop. Have you stopped by now?)
Nope. Never stopped. I thought about those notes all the time, and the things they wanted me to do—and I was so glad I did.
Also, Future Me, I’m dying to know—is Jeg still your best friend? (Not exactly. But she’s not my enemy, either.) Has Dad spoken to you recently about anything that actually matters? (Big-time. Now that he’s gotten started, he never shuts up. I love it.) Did Dr. Patel ever find a cure? (Not yet, but he’s working on it. I’m not really in a hurry.) Did you pass sixth grade? (Heck yes I did! Well, I will unless I mess something up really bad before the end of the year. But I won’t.) You better have. (I will!) We are not going to be here two years in a row. We’re just not. No pressure.
From,
September Self
P.S.: Sooo, what was that little blue paper all about?? (You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.)
I know Dr. Patel is right, as annoying as it is to admit. Every movie I have ever seen and book I have ever read has told me that sixth grade is only the beginning, so it isn’t just coming from him. By next fall, the confusing boys will probably get more confusing. The snotty girls will probably get snottier. But I’ll have to find a way to deal with it, to stay okay through it all no matter what, to take the good, the bad, and the itchy.
I have no idea how I’m going to do that.
I guess I’ll have to think about it.
Love,
You
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
If I had a word on my body, it would be LUCKY. This book would not have been possible without the support of so many people, and I am incredibly grateful for each and every one of them.
My editor, Susan Dobinick, should be covered from head to toe in AMAZING because she truly is, and that doesn’t even begin to describe how much I value her insight and enjoy working with her. Thank you to every INCREDIBLE person at FSG/Macmillan, in particular, Joy Peskin, Simon Boughton, Morgan Dubin, Beth Clark, Karla Reganold, and Janet Renard. From day one, this team made Elyse and me feel right at home.
Rebecca Sherman, my agent, is OUTSTANDING. Her enthusiasm for this book is incomparable, just like her brilliant editorial eye. Thank you also to the WONDERFUL Andrea Morrison.
Gail Nall is SUPER-DUPER and should probably have a cape because she’s basically my hero. I don’t know where I’d be now if she hadn’t chosen me to mentor for #PitchWars 2013—I probably wouldn’t be a published author. In only a month, Gail took me from a girl with a manuscript and transformed me into a real writer who knew how to revise, handle rejection, and eat chocolate like a champ. She continues to be an absolutely amazing role model and friend, and I am so happy to have her in my life.
Kalvin Nguyen, the one and only person to respond to my “Hey, what if there was a girl who had words on her body?” post on the NaNoWriMo message boards back in 2013, is truly UNBELIEVABLE. He read this book approximately a gazillion times and consistently gave excellent feedback. Gail helped me a ton during Pitch Wars, but my book never would have been selected in the first place if it weren’t for Kalvin’s patience, guidance, and overwhelming awesomeness.
My SPECTACULAR early readers: Lori Goldstein, Jen Malone, Erika David, and Jeff Chen. Thank you for loving Elyse’s story and helping me make it better. You all made a huge difference!
I’ve had so many FANTASTIC teachers and mentors throughout my life—gigantic thanks to Beth Huntley, Kris Lindborg, Tim Moreau, and Rena Citrin for your support and encouragement with my writing and everything else.
WISE Francis Keating, thanks for letting me borrow “The only certain thing in life is doubt.” Thanks for all the other wisdom, too.
My FUN writing group back in Chicago: Kate, Kasey, Meg, and Christine. I have never had more productive writerly meetings than the ones with you.<
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The SUPPORTIVE Sweet Sixteeners and MG Beta Readers—you guys rock.
CARING Edith Cohn, thanks for your advice on everything from book stuff to dog-training techniques. You’re the best!
All the EXTRAORDINARY teachers and librarians out there who work so hard to encourage kids to love books, learning, and themselves. Thank you for all you do.
My FABULOUS family and friends: AJ, Davi, Rachel, Francheska, Evan, Jess, Keri, and Natalie. Thanks for always being there no matter what.
The MAGNIFICENT Gail Rosenbaum, Andrea Wilensky, and Devorah Schlein. Gail, thanks for using your neuroscience-y smarts to help me name CAV; Andie, thanks for making me take egg roll/dog-walking breaks when things got stressful; Devorah, thanks for not playing any pranks on me (yet) related to my writing or this book. All three of you, thanks for being my people.
Finally, my parents, Kathy and David Cooper. There aren’t enough good words in the world to describe your support and what it means to me. I love you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abby Cooper, a former teacher and school librarian, lives in Minnesota with her miniature poodle, Louis, and a whole bunch of books. Her favorite things in the world (besides writing) are getting and giving book recommendations and sharing her love of reading with others. In her spare time, she likes eating cupcakes, running along the Mississippi River, and watching a lot of bad reality TV. Sticks & Stones is her first novel. Visit her online at abbycooperauthor.com. Or sign up for email updates on Abby Cooper here.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
1. Words
2. Lurches and Letters
3. Explorer Leader
4. Beautiful
5. Poopyhead
6. The Weird Kind of Weird
7. It’s On
8. Nice Andy
9. String Cheese
10. Walks
11. Dr. Patel
12. The Hallway and the List
13. Prisoner Horns
14. A Real Date
15. The Show
16. The Only Certain Thing
17. Audacity
18. Doing
19. Unfinished Business
20. Party Prep
21. Jeg Around the World
22. A Project
23. Crazy Bombs
24. Ninjas
25. Leading
26. Fun or Something
27. Roomies
28. Facecicles
29. Okay
30. Olivia and the Words
31. Silly
32. Operation Dump Nice Andy
33. Ms. Sigafiss
34. The Truth
35. A Special One
36. Short Sleeves
37. The Good, the Bad, and the Itchy
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright
Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers
175 Fifth Avenue, New York 10010
Text copyright © 2016 by Abby Cooper
All rights reserved
First hardcover edition, 2016
eBook edition, July 2016
mackids.com
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Cooper, Abby.
Title: Sticks & stones / Abby Cooper.
Other titles: Sticks and stones
Description: First edition. | New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2016. | Summary: Twelve-year-old Elyse has a rare genetic disorder that makes the words other people say about her appear on her body.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015039454 | ISBN 9780374302870 (hardback) | ISBN 9780374302894 (ebook)
Subjects: | CYAC: Self-acceptance—Fiction. | Friendship—Fiction. | Diseases—Fiction. | Middle schools—Fiction. | Schools—Fiction. | BISAC: JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy & Magic. | JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Friendship.
Classification: LCC PZ7.1.C6477 St 2016 | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015039454
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by e-mail at [email protected].
eISBN 9780374302894