Thank you for reading this book. It was a long time coming, and left to my own devices, the first manuscripts may very well have sat, collecting dust in a box, never to be read by anyone. (Note to all of you creative people out there: You are worthy! Get your work out there and make it happen. Do it! Do it! Do it!) First and foremost, thank you to my family. You were the first readers and the primary force that kept me going. Qing, you are my anchor in this fleeting and ethereal existence on the planet earth. I feel grateful for you every day. Megan and Josh—you are the light that inspires me, and you make me feel happy and proud to be your father. Josh, it was your influence that got me into the whole YA thing—thank you for bringing those books home to me way back in middle school—they were the first pebbles that made the first few ripples that led to my writing this book.