Despite having an excellent tan, a perfect ponytail and an awesome Herkie jump, Allyson Valentine did not make the Central Junior High School cheerleading squad in her hometown of Cos Cob, Connecticut. She somehow survived this setback, going on to earn an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and write books. Allyson lives in Issaquah, Washington, where she is cheered on by her husband and two teenage boys. This is her first novel. Visit her at www.allysonvalentine.com.