For Keebe, Pete, Katherine, and Sarah at McIntyre’s—thank you for championing excellent books and for being the best bookstore in the South. And Mouse, who read an incredibly early chapter of Birds and told me it was good, even when it was still very drafty.
Book bloggers! I love you! Thanks for your gorgeous pictures and wonderful tweets. And Brian Cox! You don’t know me, but hello! Your books are pretty awesome, and they greatly informed my understanding of the universe. (Any errors here are firmly mine.)
I’m lucky to have an incredible support network in America and in the UK. Ellen, thank you for being a splendiferous maid of honor, for keeping me calm-ish during edits, because my wedding was in capable hands. Grandma Pat, I love talking with you about books—always have. Miss Wilson, you saved me in high school. Chris, best father-in-law award goes to you. To my professors at UNC, especially Dr. T, so many thanks for believing in me. For most excellent Spanish-language guidance, thank you to Nicole Pradel, Mandy Morine, and Eric Ramirez. I wish I could name everyone—and it’s becoming a bit Oscars-ish, get off the stage, Carlie—so just know that I appreciate each and every one of my neighbors, classmates, and friends. There was a time in my life when I didn’t have so many people to thank, and the biggest blessing—far greater than publishing this book—is having you all by my side.
To all the girls out there who dare to dream: please believe in yourself, because I believe in you. I promise that life is so much more than middle school and high school.
Jago, thank you for Pretty Little Liars and Vampire Diaries, Indian food breaks, and—you know—marrying me. Everything in my life is brighter because you’re in it. Maybe someday I’ll write that book about the penguin guards.
To my dad, Jim—I am shocked that you read The Lady of the Tree without cringing. Thank you. I have never doubted even for a second that you believed in me. From Waffle House chats to now, you’ve always encouraged me to be who I am.
And most important, my mom, Jen—the smartest, kindest woman I know. How do I even begin to thank you? You are the reason I’m a writer. You read me Harry Potter, channeled Agnes, and literally supported me in every way possible in every thing possible. This book is for you. I am blessed that you chose me.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CARLIE SOROSIAK grew up in North Carolina and holds two master’s degrees: one in English from Oxford University and another in creative writing and publishing from City University London. Her life goals include traveling to all seven continents and fostering many polydactyl cats. She currently splits her time between the United States and the United Kingdom, hoping to gain an accent like Madonna’s. Visit her online at www.carliesorosiak.com.
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BOOKS BY CARLIE SOROSIAK
If Birds Fly Back
Wild Blue Wonder
CREDITS
Cover photograph by Deborah Kolb
Cover design by Aurora Parlagreco
COPYRIGHT
HarperTeen is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
IF BIRDS FLY BACK. Copyright © 2017 by Carlie Sorosiak. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
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ISBN 978-0-06-256396-5
EPub Edition © June 2017 ISBN 9780062563989
17 18 19 20 21 PC/LSCH 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
FIRST EDITION
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