Mac [Barnett]and I both had times when we moved, started new schools, and we know how hard that was, figuring out your identity and who you're going to be at the new school.

Mac [Barnett ] and I have been friends for more than ten years. We met working at an educational nonprofit. And we have been pranking each other the whole time. It's our own version of a prank war. We thought we would channel some of that energy into writing a book.

I had mostly been writing humor books, and my instinct is generally to go for the joke.