Taylor Merlino asked Dawn Malone:

What encouraged you to write 'Bingo Summer'?

Dawn Malone Bingo Summer was somewhat inspired by my own school experiences when I was a teen. Like the main character Summer, I knew practically no one when I started high school. It was a very lonely time. I was tempted to pretend I was different than I really was so I could be popular, but it didn't feel right. Luckily, I got involved with the school newspaper and played softball, so it was easy to make friends with people who loved those activities as well.

flag