Children's book author and indie publisher DARCY PATTISON writes award-winning fiction and non-fiction books for children. Five books have received starred PW, Kirkus, or BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, five NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, three Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book (CA Reading Assn.), two Junior Library Guild selections, two NCTE Notable Children's Book in Language Arts, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, an Arkansiana Award, and the Susannah DeBlack Arkansas Children's History Book award. She's the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor's Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children's literature. Her books have been translated into ten languages. Darcy Pattison write about indie publishing of children's books at IndieKidsBooks.com.

DARCY PATTISON's children's books have received five starred reviews from PW, Kirkus, and the Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books.

Sleepers by Darcy Pattison

Jake Rose defianatly decides to skinny dip in the Gulf. He doesn't know that a Great White awaits. Will it be friend or foe?

A test-tube baby, fifteen-year-old Jake Rose is half human and half alien; he has both lungs and gills.

He's been raised on the "other blue planet," Rison. However, in a horrifying science-gone-wrong scenario, Rison will soon implode. He evacuates to Earth to live with his human father's parents on Bainbridge Island in Puget Sound. His mother, Dayexi Quad-de is Rison's ambassador to Earth. She's tasked with finding Risonians a new home on Earth in a peaceful manner.

If you like the intrigue and excitement of Ender's Game or I Am Number Four, you'll love Darcy Pattison's science fiction series of survival among the galaxies.

CURATOR'S NOTE

Are there aliens among us? Ever notice something rather curious about the people next door? Darcy Pattison's Sleepers imagines a world in which people from another planet desperately need a place to live and see Earth as a possible new home. But will the people of Earth trust them enough to share? – Nick Harlow

 

REVIEWS

  • "Darcy Pattison has vividly created a wonderful world in this story that is perfectly described. Although it's about aliens, it also makes you think about dislike and hate, doubts and fears, caring and friendship with unknown people in general. If you enjoy science fiction, this one is for you."

    – Amazon Review
  • "One of the many things I really loved: despite the political rhetoric for and against accepting Risonian refugees, Jake investigates to determine what is really going on. In search of truth, he uncovers secrets and even discovers he has pieces of the puzzle which might save many lives."

    – Amazon Review
  • "Just finished Pattison's latest book and it was wonderful. Her novel intertwines science and science fiction with fresh look at many contemporary, ethical issues. I found it hard to put down. The characters and plot lines are very well-developed and they keep the reader engaged as the mystery unfolds in the book. Well worth reading!"

    – Amazon Review
  • "Truly science fiction, Darcy Pattison offers her readers an entertaining education on volcanology, astronomy, and anatomy. The idea of a person with both gills and lungs is fascinating."

    – Amazon Review
 

BOOK PREVIEW

Excerpt

Chapter 1

The Great White

The Great White shark moved silently through the surf, propelled by short sweeps of its crescent tail. It had no conscious thought for what it was doing so close to shore. It just hunted. The water shone brilliantly under the Milky Way, and its myriads of stars reflected on the face of the gentle ocean swells.

A lone figure emerged from a dark beach house, trotted down the weathered boards across the dunes to the beach, scuffed through the soft sand and slowed to walk straight to the water's edge.

Wet sand under his feet now, Jake Rose threw a darting glare over his shoulders, and then turned to stare out to sea. He took a deep breath, letting the salty air fill his lungs, and suddenly the longing was overwhelming. I will go skinny dipping tonight.

Defiant, Jake removed his shirt, flip-flops, and swim trunks, tossing them beside a piece of driftwood. He splashed into the warm August surf until he was immersed chest-deep, and he scooped water to splash over his shoulders, his face, and his hair.

A hundred yards off shore, the shark heard the splash and stirred, moving toward the disturbance, an arrow spiraling towards a bull's-eye. The shark closed in, his dorsal fin cutting through the water less than a dozen feet to the teen's side.

At the sight, a shiver of fear ran down Jake's spine, but he was committed. Without stopping to think further, he bent his knees and dove, arms outstretched, splitting the glittering breaker.

Underwater, Jake's eyes adjusted to the dark. There it was, circling. The shark's row of teeth flickered, stark white in the gloom. Its circle collapsed inward until the shark darted past, just a few feet away from Jake's face.

Time to move, Jake realized.

Quickly, Jake inhaled, the gills under his arms undulating as they expanded and contracted with each breath. Water-breathing through his Risonian gills felt as natural and regular as breathing air through his human lungs. When he pressed his legs together, the villi wove together with what his father jokingly called a Velcro system that turned his legs into a long tail.

Jake swept his tail in a powerful thrust that sent him speeding away from the shark. But as he did, he felt a strange vibration in the water. Confused, he stopped and looked back at the Great White, who now held stationary just staring at Jake.

Perplexed, Jake waited for a repeat of the vibration. Nothing.

Had the vibration been an attempt at communication? he wondered. If he were home on Rison, there'd be no doubt. But here? On Earth? Clumsily, Jake flapped his hands, sending his own vibrations through the water.

With its short fins, the Great White beat out a series of vibrations in answer.

Jake attempted a rough translation: "Friend. We swim."

He repeated the exact vibrations back to the shark, and immediately the shark repeated the phrase: "Friend. We swim."

Crude, but effective, exulted Jake. They understood each other—after a fashion.

"Cousin," Jake called in a bubbly voice. "Before us is the open sea. Take me out to explore!"

The Great White didn't understand the words, of course. Nevertheless, he swam toward deeper water, pausing now and then, as if to be sure that Jake followed.

Jake reveled in the too-long-forbidden feel of warm seawater buoying him upward and the joy of a strong tail that sent him coursing behind the Great White. With wild abandon, Jake followed his guide. They were just two wild creatures off to explore the Gulf of Mexico.