Sticks & Stones (23 page)

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.

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
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.

eISBN 9780374302894