This book has been in the works for about three years by the time it's out of my hands and into yours, and I absolutely could not have it happen alone.

Dandelion and Adultolescence wouldn't be a fraction of what they are without Chance Bones. Years ago, I followed Chance as a fan of his art and somehow convinced him to be my mentor in illustration. Through the years and different, projects he's contributed countless ideas and suggestions, pushed me creatively, and inspired me infinitely. He truly brеathed life into the pagеs of this book, and I can't thank him enough for caring as much about this body of work as I do.

This obviously wouldn't have been possible without my team at Simon & Schuster: Daniella Wexler, Loan Le, Isabel DaSliver, and everyone else who worked on this over the last couple of years. Thank you for your patience with me as I wrote, rewrote, re-wrote, pushed back deadlines, missed those deadlines to write some wrote more, made new ones, and missed them again. Because of your flexibility, I ended up with a version of this book that I was proud to see on shelves (that you procured for me.)

Thank you to my agents at CAA, Andrew Graham and Anthony Mattero, for being my biggest fans (if anyone asks) and for dealing with all the scary, complicated contractual stuff so that I could focus on the creative. This process was way easier and more enjoyable with you involved

Massive thanks to Josh Loveless, my manager, who entered my life in the midst of twenty different deadlines for fifty different projects and somehow juggled them all for me when I dropping the ball. I don't know how you did that, but if I did, I guess I wouldn't need you so much!

To all my family and friends who encouraged me when I needed it, gave me through love when I needed it more, and fed me healthy, constructive criticism . . . thank you. I can only imagine that getting weekly text for stanzas of poetry asking "Doesn't make sense to you?" gets old after a while, but I appreciate you acting excited, anyway.

I never properly thanked my sister is Cherisa and Monica, for contributing an illustration each in my last book (Cherisa drew "FLIES," and Monica drew "DOLLHOUSE"). I'm so happy I was able to have you be a part of something that was so heavily centered around an experience that only we understand. You both have always inspired me in your different forms of artistry, and your artwork was beautiful contributing to Adultolescence

Most importantly, to all my fans and supporters of my poetry, music, and other work . . . I couldn't possibly say thank you enough. You are the light in the dark, the silver lining, the reason to keep creating, the reason to keep fighting. Without your support, none of this will matter.

Lastly, to everyone who didn't believe in me or told me I wasn't good enough: thanks a million.