You're about to read about someone's life. It's not gonna be sugar-coated. It's not gonna be pretty all the time. Or even most of the time, honestly. But, hey, you chose to read about mutant bird kids.

So, reader-

Reader - that sounds so formal. Can I call you Frankie? That's a nice gender-neutral name. Sounds kinda like what I'd probably name my pet cat. If I had one.

We're a bit off topic.

Anyway, Frankie, I just want to let you know what you're getting yourself into, diving into this story. Life ain't all sunshine and butterflies. It isn't all bad either, though. I'm gonna give it to you straight, and if it gets too tough, I won't blame you for jumping ship. God only knows how many times I wished I could do that. But when it's your own life, well... You can't exactly take a snack break and watch TV and then get back to it.

This is my life story, and my family's story, and also the story of a girl named Maximum Ride.