"More than a stunning debut. It is the announcement of a bold new literary voice"
—Stephen Chbosky, author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I miss you all, but I don’t know you. It that weird?

You died when I was six, Mary. I used to go to your house in Queens, and sometimes I really didn’t want to go. Now, I regret not spending more time with you. I can’t go to Queens without thinking about you and being sad.

I’ve never met you, Joseph. You died before I was born, so I’ve only heard things about you. From what I can tell, you were a wonderful father and a wonderful grandfather. You made people laugh and you purposely lost at cards so that you grandchildren could get money. I would have loved to have known you.

I knew you the longest, Alan. I never spent much time with you, but I loved you anyway. You were an amazing person, and so great to me. You treated me like a real person. Thank you for being the grandfather I never had.

I met you when I was little, Sindel. People don’t believe me, but I remember you smiling down at me. That smile is the earliest memory I have, and I’m glad it is. I don’t have much else to say.

I miss you all. Wherever you are, please know that I miss you.