Priscilla the Great: The Time Traveling Bullet (Book #5)

By Sybil Nelson

How would you like it if you accidentally lost 25 years of your life? Well that is exactly what happened to me, Priscilla Maxine Sumner, a.k.a the hottest girl in River's Bend. I wake up one day and the world is in total chaos! My brothers have kids, my best friend is old, and the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series and I missed it. I totally missed it! My life might as well be over. And if Xi has anything to do with it, it will be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sybil Nelson
• Release date: Apr 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476404868

Sybil Nelson

Sybil Nelson lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband and two children. She currently attends the Medical University where she’s earning her PhD in Biostatistics.

Book preview

Chapter 1

How Did I Get Here?

I hate hospitals. I guessed that was a trait I inherited from my dad. Once, when my mother was under Colonel Selliwood's control, she tried to kill my dad by stabbing him in the chest. He refused to go to the hospital even though he had a collapsed lung and was bleeding like crazy. So, yeah, my hatred of hospitals was hereditary. That would explain why even though I was lying by the edge of a river with a bullet hole in my shoulder I knew I would not be going to the hospital. I hate hospitals.

It was just a bullet anyway. I'd been shot before. I knew I could get over it without too much trouble. If I went to the hospital, they would just start asking a whole bunch of impossible questions like: What's your name? Where do you live? And, oh yeah, who would shoot a thirteen-year-old girl and leave her for dead by a river?

The scariest part was that I didn't know how to answer that last question. Normally, I would immediately have said Colonel Selliwood. I knew he wanted me dead. To him I was just a malfunctioning piece of property. Was he the one that shot me? I could have sworn he was in jail. Didn't I put him there? Maybe it was Specimen Xi. She definitely wanted me dead and had tried several times. But if she had succeeded in shooting me, I doubted she would have left me alive. She would've finished the job. Maybe I got away somehow. I tried to think, but nothing was coming to me. Had I lost my memory?

My name is Priscilla Sumner and I'm thirteen years old, I said to the trees as I lay on my back. I started listing all the facts I could think of trying to convince myself I didn't have amnesia. My mother is Quindolyn Sumner, a genetically-enhanced super human created in the Selliwood Institute. My father is Gregory Sumner, a regular human but a master marksman. My older brother Josh also has super powers and my younger twin brothers Charlie and Chester are super annoying but that’s about it.

The trees didn't really care about my family history, but at least I convinced myself that I didn't have amnesia. But why couldn't I remember how I ended up lying next to a river with a bullet in my shoulder?

As I sat up in the grass, it felt like all the blood rushed out of my head. I thought I was gonna pass out. I had to close my eyes for a second in order to get control of myself. I could tell I had already lost a ton of blood. I could feel it. But I should have been able to look at my clothes and estimate how much and how long I had been bleeding. But when I opened my eyes, I got another shock. No clothes! I was completely butterball naked! I would have freaked out and gone into a full blown Prissy Fit, but I really didn't have the energy.

With my eyes still closed, I listened to the trickle of the river in front of me. That helped calm me down. I opened my eyes and applied some pressure to the bullet wound while looking around. My mind was pretty groggy so I wasn't positive where I was, but I was pretty sure I recognized this river and these woods. I was in River's Bend. I was home.

How I got here? Not so sure. But knowing I was only a few blocks away from my house gave me a burst of energy. Looking at the sky, I knew the sun was about to set in an hour or so. It would be safer for me to wait until dark before I headed home. I didn't want anyone to see me clutching my shoulder and bleeding down the street.

Bleeding or not, naked or not, I needed to start using my training. I could practically hear my mother's voice in my head telling me to survey my surroundings and secure the perimeter. What if the bad guys were still close by?

I focused my super hearing for a moment. I was definitely alone. Alone and possibly insane because for some reason, I heard music. Not just any music. I heard Christina Aguilera.

As I stood up to follow the music, blood from my shoulder dripped to the ground. That's when I noticed something strange. There was no other blood. Anywhere. I wasn't wet so I didn't crawl out of the river so there should have been a trail of blood from my shoulder. But there wasn't. It was like I had fallen straight out of the sky or something.

I followed the music to a tree and looked up. Hanging from a branch there was a green camouflage bag. With my uninjured arm, I grabbed a rock, threw it, and knocked the bag down. Three years of Little League pitching really came in handy.

Once I had the bag in front of me, I reached in and turned off the iPod that was playing the annoying pop music. I almost threw it into the river but figured I better hang on to it just in case it held some clues about what in the world was going on. Also in the bag were clothes. Clothes that were exactly my size. It was almost as if they were left there on purpose. Who in the world would be expecting me to be here at this time? And why would they know I would need clothes?

I tried not to think about that too much. Instead, I whipped on the provided clothes. In minutes, my blood had already soaked through the shirt. I took the socks that were in the bag and held them to my wound, trying to stop the bleeding. Then I sat against a tree and used my uninjured right arm to gather a few sticks into a pile. I lit a flame with my forefinger and started a small fire to keep myself warm as the moon rose and the temperature fell.

I tried to stay positive. Things weren't so bad. So what if I was shot and left for dead? So what if I couldn't quite remember how I got there? At least I was alive. I had an uneasy feeling that someone I was close to wasn't so lucky.

Two hours later, I struggled to my feet. It was now dark enough that I should be able to make it to my house without drawing too much attention to myself. I could follow the river all the way down to Tierney Street behind McMillan’s Pharmacy, then cut past Main Street through the town square gazebo and straight to my street.

The town looked different. Maybe it was because it was night. Or maybe it was because my vision was starting to blur because of all the blood loss but I could have sworn McMillan's was now something called a Wal-Mart Annex and Willie's Sweet Shop was now a ... I couldn't really tell. I guessed it was a clothing shop, but all I saw on sale were tutus. That was quick. How long was I lying by that river?

I tried not to think about it too much. There was probably a good explanation. Maybe it was just temporary. They were probably shooting a movie or something. Yeah, I bet Kyle was in a movie or commercial and they were shooting a scene there. Yeah, that was it.

As I saw my house at the end of the street, all other thoughts melted away. All I wanted was my bed and my mommy. Yeah, I know. Lame. But I was only thirteen and I had a bullet in my shoulder. I think I was allowed to want my mommy.

I tried to open our door. It was locked. That was funny. Hardly anyone locked their doors in River's Bend. My dad was the most paranoid person in the world and even he rarely locked the door. Oh well, I thought as I knocked on the door.

I'll get it, an unfamiliar female voice said from inside. Seconds later, the door flew open and I stared at a bronze-skinned girl about my age wearing my favorite Wonder Woman shirt and a pair of jeans. Something about the shape of her face and her piercing blue eyes seemed very familiar. I thought for a second. Nope, I had never seen her before. So I didn't quite know what she was doing in my house or why she was wearing my clothes.

That's my shirt! I said, pointing at her.

You're crazy. This was my aunt's shirt, she said with a little too much attitude. I mean, she had some nerve breaking into my house and putting on my clothes.

And what are you doing in my house?

Your house? Please. This is my house. I was born here. She tossed her long, curly black hair over her shoulder and crossed her arms.

Priscilla, who's at the door? a voice from inside called.

That's what I'd like to know, the girl and I said in unison. We stared at each other for a moment. It was obvious we were both confused. It was also obvious that we were both too stubborn to back down. Finally, I said, I'm Priscilla Sumner and this is my house.

The girl laughed a little and rolled her eyes. Now I know you're crazy. I'm Priscilla Sumner.

Chapter 2

Psycho at the door

Mom, there's a psycho at the door, the Priscilla imposter called over her shoulder. Then she just stared at me as if I was interrupting some sort of important evening for her.

Who you calling a psycho? I asked a bit offended. I mean, psycho was a strong word in my book. It was something I reserved almost exclusively for Specimen Xi or the twins on a sugar high.

From inside the house, I heard feet shuffling and then the familiar click of a rifle that was so loud I probably would have heard it even without my super hearing. Someone had a really big gun and they were coming for me with it.

Bring out your stupid old-fashioned gun and get rid of her will you? The imposter giggled again.

I was sooo sick of getting shot, I thought. And I assumed an old-fashioned gun would hurt just as much as a new fashioned gun whatever that was. I didn't know who this was at the door or who her mother was, but I also assumed she wouldn't shoot her own daughter. So the imposter was about to become my protection.

I grabbed her arm and twisted it around her back while forcing myself into the house. Using her body as my shield I took a few steps inside and kicked the door shut. There was no need to give the neighbors an eyeful of what was about to go down. I was about to do some damage to the thieves that had apparently decided to take over my house and my life.

This didn't quite look like my house, though. I turned around and around studying every detail. I mean, I could tell it was still the Sumner home as the general layout was the same, kitchen on right, hallway and bedrooms to the left, but everything else was wrong. Where was all my furniture? Where was my trophy on the fireplace from the sixth grade Little League state championship? Where was the hole in the wall from when Charlie and Chester decided to play Running of the Bulls and ran headfirst into it? I had actually drawn two little bull horns over that hole as a constant reminder that my brothers were bull-headed idiots.

Mom, she's a specimen with super strength! the imposter called. Surprisingly, she didn't sound surprised or scared. In fact, she sounded a little bored and annoyed with the whole situation. As if a bleeding stranger showing up on her doorstep and putting her in a death grip was only interrupting an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians.

But she definitely doesn't have super smarts or anything, the imposter continued.

Hey, what's that supposed to mean?

It means I think you're stupid and you never should have come here. My parents are totally gonna shoot you.

I'm so confused, I said, tightening my grip on her arm. She didn't even flinch. What is going on here? I asked. Who are you and why are you in my —

Let her go. I heard the threatening female voice only a split second after I felt the tip of a gun to the back of my scalp. Wow, either I was really out of it or I was totally losing my edge. How could I let someone sneak up on me like that? I must have lost way too much blood.

Okay, okay, let's all just calm down here, I said releasing the imposter.

The girl who claimed she was Priscilla too looked at me and rolled her eyes. At least the other one had a cool accent. She was much more entertaining, she said. I'm gonna go brush my hair. Then she calmly walked down the hallway and went into MY room! How dare she go to my room? I had private stuff in there. If she so much as breathed on one of my first edition comics, oh, it would be on.

I wanted to run after her and

Reviews for Priscilla the Great

[scoshie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

OK I know this is a Tween book but it was a really excellent story. The characters sounded true and it was laugh out loud funny. I can not wait to read the next installation of our newest Superhero Priscilla Sumner. Well done and and it was a great way to spend an afternoon inthe sun

[melgaye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a good book for a older middle school reader. Very good pace and written well from the middle school point of view. There will be a movie playing in your head as you read this. I enjoyed it and will let my daughter read it when she's a little older.

[tanyaj101 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a great read. I read it after my daughters did so that I could write my review, but we all loved it. We look forward for more to come!!!

[madamediotte · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fantastic novel that will be sure to please teens and adults alike! I especially enjoyed the main character's humorous musings. Looking forward to see what happens in the next book!

[dranea_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fire flinging fingertips, making armored, killer guards rock out to some pop music, and an invisible jet. Man, the lifestyles of the not-so-rich and super-powered. Priscilla is just like any other 7th grade girl. She's got a mop of red hair, a overprotective father, a football playing brother, and a set of twin brothers. She and her best friend, Tai, have been plotting ways to get Priss' crush to finally crush back on her. Then, one day, Priss isn't so normal anymore. Right before school at the coolest pool party, her extremely hot crush makes her feel REALLY hot, hotter than she has ever felt before, her face is red and her body is definitely feeling 'off'. Pass it off as hormones, stress, or nerves, but when you can set fire to a bathroom towel by touching it, something has changed. Priscilla learns at this point that she may never be normal again, and this fire thing? Is she going to scorch something every time she sees her favorite guy? This cannot be happening, and who is she going to tell? Who will believe her? The answer to that: more people than she realized, and it's an awful lot for her to understand. Oh yea - she is kidnapped and about to be killed now, did I forget to mention that? And her so-called super powers decide to take a vacation, not too super after all, huh?I flew through this book! I loved the whole journey. It was fun, it was funny, it was exciting. I can't wait to keep going with this series. The way the author ended it was a cliffhanger I am too weak to resist. We get to see a real family in this story. With all of the ups and downs of sibling relationships and parent/child drama. It all feels very real, even with the super powers thrown in. You can tell the family has a real dynamic to it. Who hasn't loved and hated their siblings all at the same time. The same is true in this family. One of my favorite parts is when a booger war is invoked to help the older brother out, even if he didn't realize it at the time. (Every family needs to experience a good booger war!)Young adults and some of us not-so-young adults will rush to end of the book, when my Kindle said that I had hit the 100% mark...I was not a happy girl. I couldn't believe I finished it that quickly. I WILL be joining the gang for round two of Priscilla the Great!

[releanna · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

this is a very original and funny start of series.I enjoyed it pretty much, but:the characters seemed to be at least 15 but surely not 12.sometimes it is too much over-the-top for me, too surreal even for a fantasy.And the cliff-hanger is really bad - I'm sure to read the second book *g*

[jynxpierce · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Priscilla is not your average 12 year old, she is not even your average superhero! Priscilla has to juggle school, dating and bratty brothers with discovering her super powers. Funny, exciting and a “super” read! Glad there is a sequel!

[wendallyn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this book with my pre-teen daughters in mind and loved it. Priscilla is not your ordinary girl, but she is facing some pretty ordinary middle school problems. She learns the hard way that she really is special. A very entertaining read, I will definitely pass this on to my daughters.

[nicnac63 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What an engaging main character! Priscilla isn’t like a normal tweenage girl. She has special powers. What kid wouldn’t want super powers? Well, they contribute to mishaps and dangers, but the unique situations keep the reader glued. Priscilla’s friends and family develop nicely throughout this story. The author did a fine job of introducing each one. I feel I know them, and I care about their outcomes. I’m especially drawn to her best friend Tai. She’s a brainiac girl who can easily relate to Priscilla’s idiosyncrasies. I also liked Priscilla’s twin little brothers. They are mischievous little demons who are annoying, yet fun and entertaining. This is a fast read, filled with adventure. It dipped me back into my middle school years when imagination, coming of age, and first loves are at their peak. I’m not crazy about cliff-hanger endings (the only reason I rated a 5 rather than a 4), but thankfully I have book #2 to delve into without delay.

[blehner_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Admittedly I don't read YA, or books for an even younger audience, all that often. In this case though, I'm more than glad that I did and I thoroughly enjoyed the novel even as an adult. This first part of Sybil Nelson's series about the teenage girl Priscilla grabbed me right from the beginning. Starting with a twelve year old girl who suddenly shoots fire out of her fingers this story could have gone many ways, but this one is certainly unusual. Definitely not your average girl-becomes-witch kind of book, which you might expect upon starting to read, but a fun X-Men kind of story with lots of twists and turns.Not only is it a highly entertaining and well-written read, it is also so much fun to dip into the teenage state of mind with Priscilla. I absolutely loved her snarky personality - she's just really cool (unless of course she fires up her fingers) and extremely likable. And do I really need to mention that with the cliff hanger at the end I was glad I had the second book in the series to continue right away? In short: A super fun book for young readers!

[abcarroll_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Priscilla is a typical teenage girl, except for the small thing of being able to shoot fire from her fingers. When Priscilla discovers she has superpowers no one is more surprised than her. This is a fantastic story of the adventures of a teenaged supergirl and her family. I enjoyed each and every page...a must read in my opinion!

[cwaldrum_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

We are introduced to Priscilla (Priss) M. Sumner as she is gearing down her summer vacation and preparing to start grade 7. Our darling heroine is only a whopping 12 years old when this novel begins (13 when it ends). She's also going through the onset of puberty, ya know with the "lady's days" and all! The changes within her body aren't just those of a normal pre-teen, she's also got a wicked case of the hot flashes, complete with flammable fingertips! You see Miss Priss isn't just a normal kid, she's also a mutant.Then again not just any mutant, she's a second generation (and she didn't even know!) mutant. This is all a surprise as she was not aware of her mother's special abilities and how they got passed along to her, at least some. Priss is quite unique in some of her talents, things her mother cannot do. What kid doesn't love being able to do something cooler and better than their parents?Priss' story has the usual pre-teen drama with her crush liking her BFF and her guy friend liking her and she's not quite feeling the same (at least not then, wink wink nudge nudge). Also the typical over-protective father (okay not really "typical") who wants her to be safe and the "my mother doesn't understand me" schtick that every girl goes through. Throw in a government conspiracy with super-duper mutant assassins and you've got a great read.It was great that the author, Sybil Nelson, allowed Priscilla the role of not only budding mutant, but a wickedly cool super hero. She saves the day and saves the lives of other experimental mutants that her oft-absent mother was trying to save too. The best part of her heroics is that they were done in the a 12 year old mentality. Nothing that she did or said would have been out of character for someone of that age (okay maybe the fingertip fire), and her solutions to the situations she faced were genius and right up the alley of a 12 year old girl.I loved the story. It was written for the age group that Priss is but as an adult I found much humor in her body changes and the love triangles that were connected. It was fun and interesting and a new spin on the whole created vs. natural super hero (our Priss is a comic book lovin' freak too!). For any pre teen I think it would be a perfect read to exaggerate the body changes during puberty and make it easy for them to accept their changes, considering the crazy side affects of Priss' (if she kisses a boy she might light him on fire!).

[rhonda1111 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Priscilla is a 12 year old girl her best friend Tai lives across the street. She has fighting with her mom for the past 3 years after she missed her 10th birthday party because of work. She is gone quite a bit. Priscilla is at a party which she talks to a guy she has a crush on and gets hot. she ends up lighting a towel on fire with her hands. Thats her first hint that something weird is happening to her. Her Father is over protective. So she realizes it has to do with her hormones that she developed powers. Her older brother is josh who helps her when she needs it. and 5 yr. old twin brothers. Its a cute book and a fast read. I won the sequale of this book in exchange of a review and sent me the first one to read. I am looking forward too the second book. I did not want the first to end especially how it ended so I will read the second tonight.

[thebookwormsorg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I honestly thought that Priscilla the Great was going to be totally goofy and I would enjoy it but it would be just a side read…NO WAY! Well yes it was goofy, but in the best and funniest way possible! Once I started it there was no stopping me. It was an awesome book!Priscilla was a fun character! I loved that she’s that shy kind of girl that thinks she’s probably an outcast and add in that she’s hotter than Hades – literally – and assassins are out to kill her doesn’t help the situation. Priscilla is a kick-butt 7th grader who’s got the best sense of humor and wits, which she uses to get out of any situation.Priscilla has one older brother who sings Christina Aguilera all the time and two crazy little twin brothers. Her dad is a stay-at-home dad and her mom has an ‘important’ job which causes her to always be away from home and Priscilla is so angry at her. But, when Priscilla finds out what she is and her best friend Tai can’t find answers or explain what’s happening, things seem to go downhill and Priscilla is captured by creepy doctors! Her family comes together and she finds out secrets that she didn’t think were possible.I couldn’t stop reading, it was definitely a page turner! I couldn’t help but to connect to Priscilla, because I was wishing I was as awesome as she was when I was in 7th grade! I also laughed out loud multiple times. This books was witty and fun and I recommend it to all ages!

[readingfanatic09 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a great middle grade read! The characters were go much fun to get to know; I really loved Priss. She was an awesome protag! The storyline is easy to follow with the right combination of suspense and action with just a little side of romance. :-) Highly recommended!

[hollyrae_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book it was such a cute read. The author did a good job keeping the pace of the book I would def recommend it. very cute and easy read : )

[emeraldpools · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was cute! I feel immediately in love with the Priscilla character! The opening of the book caught me right away. I felt I had to find out what was going on! But I hope there is another book because the ending left me hanging!

[cramundson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Priscilla the great was a very entertaining and age appropriate story of a 12 year old girl, her family, and friends. I found each of the characters charming and well rounded and the plot was entertaining. I would not hesitate to let my 12 year old read this book.

[marisol_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Snagged a copy of this for the Kindle via a LibraryThing giveaway - and I'm so glad I did! I'm 30, but an occasional reader of high quality YA, and I LOVED this book. It's a fast paced page-turner of a superhero story, with an awesome twist, as the superheroes are Priscilla and her mom and brothers! Believable characters, compelling action, and enough mushiness/dating awkwardness to give the characters depth.The language is very believable -- Nelson has a definite knack for writing as kids speak without patronizing them. My young teenage friends and nieces are going to love this book!

[scsproatt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. I thought Priscilla was such an engaging heroine, because she was funny, clever, and adventerous. I loved how she had a very tomboy-ish personality, but she still wore skirts and dresses, and wasn't afraid to acknowledge her crushes on boys. Priscilla wasn't the only engaging character; they all had something going for them. I especially liked the way her relationship with her mother evolved, and how her best friend never hesitated to help her out. Everything about this book was well thought out, and Nelson leaves us with a cliff-hanger that will want the reader wanting more. I would recomend this to anyone who enjoys middle grade fiction; especially if they're looking for a book that can make them laugh out loud.

[skyelark31 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As a Children's Librarian I am fully immersed in what kids like to read. "Priscilla the Great" is a book that will completely capture the female pre-teen audience. Priscilla is a hilarious and likable character that the kids can connect to. I can easily see Priscilla becoming a long-loved character in a series. I plan to recommend the book to my kiddos!

[euphoria13 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

All of the reviews that I've read about this book, have given it 4 or 5 star ratings. Many people who've read this book really enjoyed the story and that was one of my main reasons why I decided to review this book. Of course, the description intrigued me as well. Priscilla seemed like an interesting character to read about and I must say that I wasn't disappointed with her. She was just an ordinary seventh grader who suddenly develops into a super enhanced girl! She literally plays with Fire!Priscilla then starts to uncover the truth behind her parents odd behavior, especially her mother who is always out of the country working. She's also no longer safe because of her powers. Strange people have been following her and trying to kidnap her, in order to obtain her powers. Now she has to figure out a way to keep her family and herself safe from the crazy lunatics after her.Priscilla was funny, likable and a bit of a goof but she was a cute character to read about. Certain parts in dialogue were also really funny in this book, such as Priscilla's random thoughts about her family and best friend. Not to mention how every time she discovered something, she would say "Holy Hotdogs!".The book was also a quick read. A VERY quick read, which I wasn't expecting as well. The story itself wasn't bad but I didn't think it was fantastic or great like other reviewers claimed it would be. It felt like a kids version of X-men (Which isn't a bad thing but it really didn't catch my interest much). This would make a great read for middle school kids. I'm sure they would enjoy reading about Priscilla!