ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my editor, Elizabeth Bewley, and my agent, Rob McQuilkin, for creating this possibility. Elizabeth, you are seriously brilliant. I look forward to seeing you accept your directing Oscar someday.

Thanks to Grady Hendrix for collaborating with me on this novel.

Many thanks to Phoebe’s wonderful grandparents—especially Mom and Rhoda. I could never have finished this without your help. We love you all very much.

Thanks to Peter, who hates being thanked.

I would like to recognize the Penn Center in South Carolina as an invaluable resource on the fascinating Gullah culture of the Sea Islands. Much appreciation also to the ladies of Savannah who took me to tea and told me their stories.

Finally, a big thank-you to Camp Nebagamon for Boys in the north woods of Wisconsin—a wonderful place to spend the summer, and an unexpectedly fantastic place to write.