My Author Friends and Blurbers: Veera Hiranandani, Aisha Saeed, Hena Khan, Rajani LaRocca, Aya Khalil, Saadia Faruqi, Saira Mir, Marzieh Abbas, and Becky Sayler for being there at all hours!

Ilse Craane and Kendra Marcus, my previous agents, for telling me numerous times to write middle grade (I listened!) and for encouraging me while this book was in its broken stages.

My eleventh grade English teacher—Mrs. Patricia Carman for transforming me by giving me the gift of writing and for your inspiring “coffee breaks.”

These supportive groups: Rena’s Renegades, #DiverseDreamers, #MGBookChat, #the21ders

Author Jasmine Warga, whose novel in verse gave me the boost I needed to finish mine.

Eliot VanValkenburg, Aisha Zakaria, and Dr. Amena Dossul for swimming expertise.

My BFFs, Salma Stoman, Sarah Stoman, and Saira Pasha for coaxing me out of my writing cocoon for dinner six feet apart outside, laughter, and endless memories.

My courageous cousin Noor Faruqi for sharing your locker room incident with me.

My Whole Family (including all my twenty-five cousins!) in Peachtree City, in Pakistan, and beyond.

Mom and Abajan (Mrs. Nazia Malik and Dr. Firasat Malik), Daado-Jan (Mrs. Ismat Malik): Love and Duas. Abajan, thanks for comparing tea to the color of your skin; it inspired me!

Cousins Dr. Amena Dossul and Asna Dossul for being my sisters, my BFFS, my everything, and whose names I will trace on the beach sand for the rest of my life.

My three brothers, Hamzah, Talha, and Osman: I don’t know who I would be without you.

—Hamzah, for standing up for the man on the bus and for always being so kind.

—Talha, for saying you always thought I’d be a writer: it spurred me on more than you thought. Thank you for always cooking for us (even though my butter chicken tastes better.)

—Osman, thanks for complimenting my writing once. Means a lot coming from you! ☺

Nana (Mrs. Zarina Zakaria), so much of this book I thought of you. Thank you for always gifting us the perfect clothes. I love your love for nature. Since Nana Abu’s death, I am in awe of your strength.

My parents, Amma and Abba (Mrs. Huma and Mr. Zaheer Faruqi), for coming over, watching the children, emptying the dish rack, providing me aloo kababs, and for shaping me into who I am. Amma, special thanks for Wednesdays. Abba, thanks for your stories and love for kites. You both made moving continents look easy. Without you, I would have a very messy home and still be working on this book.

My husband, Naoman Malik, for reading my story early on, saying I had stars and just needed to make them into a constellation, and for printing out my many manuscripts over the years! Thank you x infinity for making sacrifices, BIG and small, so I could write.

My daughters Zineera, Anisa, Hanifa for cleaning, baking, joyous chaos, and for being the reason why I have to get off my computer. I pray you wear your faith proudly.