“Okay, kids, let’s get this meeting started!” A tall woman wearing jeans and a tank top pulls a few more chairs into the circle, then waves her arms at us.
I start to look at Libby—for permission? Guidance?—then realize that I can’t just follow her around all afternoon. If I want these people to help me, then I have to move into the circle myself. I have to ask for help.
Just like Mom did.
Just like we all have to do sometimes.
So I listen. When we go around to introduce ourselves, I tell the others about myself. About Mom and Dad and my friends and softball. About singing and school and how, finally, I’m maybe—just maybe—learning where I belong.
Acknowledgments
So many thanks go to my current and past agents, Kate Testerman and Brianne Johnson, who have both worked with me in different capacities to help this book enter into the world. Massive gratitude also goes to my editor, Kat Brzozowski, whose enthusiasm, kindness, and super-duper speed constantly reassured me that Veronica was understood, appreciated, and in such good hands.
A huge thank-you also to Jean Feiwel, Rachel Diebel, Melissa Zar, Kelsey Marrujo, Celeste Cass, Kathy Wielgosz, and the rest of the staff at Feiwel & Friends. I am forever grateful to be part of such a wonderful publishing house and imprint.
Cover designer Liz Dresner and cover artist Julie McLaughlin created the most gorgeous art I could imagine— I stared in awe when I first opened up my email and saw that starry sky. Thank you for bringing Veronica’s world to life in such gorgeous lines and color.
Thanks to early readers of this book, including Pam Styles and Cory Eckert, who helped me with details about addiction, treatment centers, and alcoholism. Your honesty and guidance were essential to this process.
Thank you to my parents and in-laws, and to Jena DiPinto and Kate Averett, who are there for me every step of the way, every hour of the day. You are truly both best friends and sisters. To my friends, who prop me up when I feel self-doubt, make me laugh, and rail against the world with me—another thank-you goes to Sarah Linskey, Joan Powers, Heidi Carrington Heath, Monica Lundberg, Sarah Fink, Liz Clancy, Julie Clancy, Kelly Hager, Michelle Nadeau, Katrina Munichiello, Martha Crannell, and the Buttery Soft Librarians. You girls are the best part of the Internet.
Thank you to my writer friends, who understand how weird and wonderful this career is—Chris Baron, Rachel Simon, Katherine Applegate, Nicole Lesperance, Katherine Welsh, Chris Clark, Ali Standish, and all those I forgot here but still remember. To the teachers who have reached out and included me and shared my books—Nicole Mancini, Sandy Otto, Claire O’Neill, Allison Straker, Debbie Myers, Caitlin O’Connor, and Cassie Thomas, your students are so lucky.
I’m also sending a warm hug and all my love out to all the kids struggling with a parent who is dealing with alcoholism. You are brave and strong, and I am so proud of you.
To the ones dealing with addiction. Thank you for continuing to fight this battle.
To my family. There are no words to express how much I love and like and adore you all. Brian, you have never given up on me and make me feel special, talented, and enough every single day. Ellie and Lucy, being your mom is the best thing that I could ever be. I love you to the moon and back infinity times.
Last but never least, to my readers. To the kids, adults, librarians, and teachers who have read my books and told me how much my stories have touched their hearts. To the lovers of words who spread that love around. To the reluctant and the enthusiastic readers. Thank you all.
Thank you for reading this Feiwel & Friends book.
The friends who made
Life in the Balance
possible are:
Jean Feiwel, Publisher
Liz Szabla, Associate Publisher
Rich Deas, Senior Creative Director
Holly West, Senior Editor
Anna Roberto, Senior Editor
Kat Brzozowski, Senior Editor
Dawn Ryan, Senior Managing Editor
Erin Siu, Associate Editor
Emily Settle, Associate Editor
Rachel Diebel, Assistant Editor
Foyinsi Adegbonmire, Editorial Assistant
Liz Dresner, Associate Art Director
Kathy Wielgosz, Production Editor
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About the Author
Jen Petro-Roy is a former teen librarian, an obsessive reader, and a trivia fanatic. She lives with her husband and two young daughters in Massachusetts. She is the author of P.S. I Miss You, Good Enough, and You Are Enough. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright
Copyright © 2021 by Jen Petro-Roy
A Feiwel and Friends Book
An imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC
120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271
mackids.com
All rights reserved.
Feiwel and Friends logo designed by Filomena Tuosto
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
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 MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
First hardcover edition, February 2021
eBook edition, 2021
eISBN 978-1-250-61974-7