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

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.

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.