Ashley Hope Pérez is the author of the YA novels OUT OF DARKNESS (Carolrhoda Lab, 2015), THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY (Carolrhoda Lab, 2012) and WHAT CAN'T WAIT (Carolrhoda Lab, 2011). Her debut novel, WHAT CAN'T WAIT, won a spot on the 2012 YALSA Best Fiction for YA list, and THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY was included in the 2015 YALSA Popular Paperbacks list. Ashley grew up in Texas and taught high school in Houston before pursuing a PhD in comparative literature. She is now a visiting assistant professor of comparative studies at The Ohio State University and spends most of her time reading, writing and teaching on topics from global youth narratives to Latin American and Latina/o fiction. She lives in Ohio with her husband, Arnulfo, and their son, Liam Miguel.