Rachel Vail

---

Rachel Vail is the award-winning author of the critically acclaimed novels If We Kiss and Lucky, Gorgeous, and Brilliant (the Avery Sisters trilogy) and more than a dozen other novels for young teens, including the Friendship Ring series. Rachel has also written many beloved picture books, including Piggy Bunny and Sometimes I'm Bombaloo, and the Justin Case series for young middle-grade readers.

Rachel was born in New York City and grew up in New Rochelle, NY, just down the street from her future husband, though she didn't know that until much later. She attended Georgetown University, where she earned her B.A. in English and Theater. Rachel lives in New York City with her husband, their two sons and a tortoise named Lightning.



Author's Comment: I love the traumatic, angsty things very little kids go through, and I really like to write about adolescents, because I like the idea of metamorphosis and capturing someone who is changing so quickly. Middle school is full of life-and-death moments, when kids feel emotions strongly yet have no perspective, no context to put them into. I love writing about the pain and pathos—and the humor—of that. It was only when my own sons, who are now 10 and 15, were going through the early elementary school years that I realized what an interesting stage it is. Watching them reminded me that it is actually a time full of becomings—kids are so very much in the throes of changing at that age.

Nationality: American