by Jen Malone
Paige steps right up to him and brings her face close to his, but at the very last second, her hand comes out from behind her back, and Max ends up placing his lips right up against the hard duckling bill of Waddleworth. The entire audience screams and cheers and laughs. Max’s eyes fly open, and he blinks in confusion.
Paige curtsies to the crowd, then grabs Max by the hand and leads him out of the gym to catcalls and whistles. I try my wolf whistle again, and it isn’t half bad this time.
Anna Marie, Jake, and I make our way down the bleacher stairs to find Paige. When we reach the bottom, a giant hedgehog costume comes barreling toward us and catches me in a hug.
“You guys! Guess what.” Only it sounds like, “Oof eyes. Essa whaa,” through the hedgehog costume.
Anna Marie lifts the heavy head just enough so Veronica’s lips appear, before laughing and asking, “What?”
The lips smile. “So I asked my mom today, and she said she’s totally cool with it.”
Nothing is ever black-and-white with Veronica. Now that I know it’s just how she is, I’m more amused than annoyed. But I still have to ask, “Cool with what, Veronica?”
Now the lips curl. “Oh. Oops. Sorry. Cool with me inviting you, Anna Marie, and Paige over next weekend.”
Veronica bounces up and down in her costume before adding:
“For a sleepover!”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and biggest thanks to my editor, Amy Cloud. Your joyfulness and energy is surpassed only by your mad skillz with the editing pen. I’m yours as long as you’ll have me, Princess Warrior!
Everyone at Simon & Schuster, from the sales reps to the publicity and marketing teams to the production team, who work so hard to connect every book with the right readers: You are not unappreciated! Special shout-outs to Teresa Ronquillo, Faye Bi, Kaitlin Severini, Laura Lyn DiSiena, Lucy Truman, and Kayley Hoffman.
Giant thanks to my agent, Holly Root, for making me even more excited to write this book. When I first pitched this idea to you, your e-mail back to me read (and I quote) “Holy heckweasels, you have to write this!” (Of course, I had to steal your phrase for Meghan.) Thanks for that and all the many other e-mails that make me LOL.
Alison Cherry, Dee Romito, and Gail Nall—you guys always get lumped together in my acknowledgments, but without each of your individual comments, this book would not exist. Dana Alison Levy and Ronni Arno, you are also the very bestest of the best! I would not want to be in this industry without any of you. Truly.
A special thank-you to Nick Sicurella for introducing me to the sport of unicycle floor hockey (which I will never attempt myself). To Jack, Ben, and Caroline, who ask to host sleepovers far too often, and to John, who stays awake with me to police them, I love you guys thismuch.
And most of all, to those of you who read my books: I am humbled and grateful and full of love for all of you who allow me to continue to do something I adore so much. Thank you!
JEN MALONE is a former Hollywood publicist who once spent a year traveling the world solo, met her husband on the highway (literally), and went into labor with her identical twins while on a rock star’s tour bus. These days she saves the drama for her books. Jen is also the author of the middle-grade novel At Your Service and coauthor of the You’re Invited books. She also wrote the YA novel Map to the Stars. You can visit her online at jenmalonewrites.com.
ALADDIN
Simon & Schuster, New York
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DON’T MISS THESE OTHER GREAT BOOKS BY JEN MALONE
At Your Service
WRITTEN WITH GAIL NALL
You’re Invited
You’re Invited Too
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALADDIN
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First Aladdin hardcover edition May 2016
Text copyright © 2016 by Jen Malone
Jacket illustration copyright © 2016 by Lucy Truman
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Designed by Laura Lyn DiSiena
Author photograph by John Malone
The text of this book was set in Dante.
Names: Malone, Jen, author.
Title: The sleepover / by Jen Malone.
Description: First Aladdin hardcover edition. | New York : Aladdin, 2016.
Summary: Four girls have a sleepover but awaken to find a big mess and no memory of how it all happened.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015050808 | ISBN 9781481452618 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781481452625 (ebook)
Subjects: | CYAC: Sleepovers‹Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.M29642 Sl 2016 | DDC [Fic] dc23
