marie c. collins

Once you find out your mother is an alien, what ISN'T possible?!

That’s what 12-year-old Anne and 10-year-old Atticus Reade want to know. Minutes after learning their mother is a Farbookonian human, not an Earth human — making them half-alien — they’re whisked off to sleep-away camp in New Jersey for protection, each with a tiny Globot on one shoulder.

They do their best to fit in at camp, but their sheltered existence in the Midwest didn’t prepare them for this. Everything is new to them, and at every step, their unpredictable Farbookonian talents threaten to give them away.

Just as they settle in, a broadcast on the Rec Hall TV shakes things up, and they begin to see what’s truly strange about camp. As they race to solve a mystery involving ghost stories, quirky campers, a bizarre camp director, and a secret connection they share with their friends, only one thing is clear: They’re not safe.

Will the things that make Anne and Atticus different help them survive?

Is this book for me?

A Brief Stay at Earth Human Camp is a sci-fi, coming-of-age, mystery adventure! Author Marie C. Collins places relatable characters with alien abilities in a realistic setting that grows increasingly ominous as the story progresses. Reviewers recommend her to readers who enjoy the works of Roald Dahl, Rick Riordan, & J. K. Rowling.

If you like stories that transform the ordinary into the extraordinary ... if you like characters that remind you of your friends ... if you like mysteries that keep you guessing until the final pages ... this book is for you.

Book 2, The Quest for Normal, is due out soon. To stay informed about the series, sign up for emails on the series website (http://SecretsofFarbookonia.com) and “like” the series Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SecretsofFarbookonia).

Approximately 110,000 words / 383 pp. print length

Editorial Reviews

"[T]he novel has the feel of the work of Dr. Seuss or Roald Dahl. The similarities really are impressive ... I commend Marie Collins on her spectacular work on this novel, one which makes you feel the stormclouds gather as you prepare for the storm."
--TeenBookReviewer, bit.ly/1ceeXZY
"A Brief Stay at Earth Human Camp is the Sci-fi Version of Harry Potter - Excellent!!"
--Bri Wignall, Natural Bri, bit.ly/1IowFqi
"What can I say ... this author knows how to write a page turner for young teens! This is a book that pulls you in by the characters and a plot that keeps giving."
--Purple Pen Book Reviews, bit.ly/1SV4p1Q
"A Brief Stay at Earth Human Camp will pull you into a world of children and adventure! ... Alien children kick butt!"
--City Life Reader, bit.ly/1dqC0Aq
"This was such a fantastic, FANTASTIC book! I enjoyed every sentence from start to finish ... I found it almost impossible to look away from my screen ... I would love to read more about these characters and the Farbookonians!"
--Rachael, Elementaread (Spoiler Alert), bit.ly/1ghQtQP
"I enjoyed this page turner of a book. ... a great all-around story. Good for anyone wanting an adventure story, perfect for sleep away camp!"
--Sunshy Book Reviews, bit.ly/1GIE3Yd
"This is a story I think kids, pre-teens and teens will enjoy. ... The characters are great!"
--The Book Swap, bit.ly/1NjAI6F
"This is a wonderful book ... a good summer read for readers who like strong lead kid character[s] that tell a story of friendship!"
--A Cup of Tea and a Book, bit.ly/1NjG7e1
Read the full versions of these and more reviews at: http://secretsoffarbookonia.com