Star of the Future

By S. P. Perone

Fifth-grader Star Bell has a date with Logan, a nosy best friend, and two very big secrets. Logan promises her secret adventures. His promise is broken when Crystal figures it out and wants to join in. Along the way, Star discovers that her other secret might change the world.

Star, Logan, and Crystal explore a magical portal to make-believe realms of adventure, mystery, and danger. In a virtual world created by a secret book-reading research computer called SIMMER, they can participate in any storybook adventure they choose. From a turbulent flying carpet ride fleeing an evil magician, to swashbuckling sword fights with lusty pirates, to a frightening encounter with the ghost of an orbiting space stationits a dream come true for the three friends.

But their fun may come with a catch. Their adventures differ from the storybook versions, and Star suspects their make-believe actions might actually cause harm in the real world. The only way Star can persuade her friends of the potential gravity of their situation is to lead them on a daring adventure of her choice. Risking real harm if she is right, hoping she is wrong, will she reveal the one secret that may explain everything?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 4, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450268608

S. P. Perone

Sam Perone has worked in academic and government arenas and as a consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has published numerous technical articles, two textbooks, nine novels and two memoirs. He and his wife live in the Sierra foothills of Northern California. Visit his web site at www.samperone.com.

Book preview

Dedication

For

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to family, friends and colleagues who volunteered to review the early versions of this book, especially because this book was such a departure from my earlier novels. I particularly want to thank Jeanine Christman and Carole Carbone for providing perspectives from graphic arts and elementary education, respectively.

I especially enjoyed getting feedback from the youngsters who reviewed the early manuscript and illustrations—Allonna, Angela, Ashley, Bella, Kenzi, Olivia, Tracy, and others whose reviews reached me through parents, grandparents and relatives.

Finally, I am indebted to my wife, Sylvia, who encouraged me to consider children’s literature and opened up for me a whole new world.

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Preface

Part 1.

Chapter 1. Crystal and Logan

Chapter 2. Secret Meeting

Chapter 3. SIMMER

Chapter 4. A New World

Chapter 5. What Do We Do Now?

Chapter 6. Do You Want To Know a Secret?

Chapter 7. Reunion

Chapter 8. What Just Happened?

Part 2.

Chapter 9. Crystal Being Crystal

Chapter 10. Back to the Desert?

Chapter 11. Where Am I. . .and Who Are You?

Chapter 12. Logan's Dilemma

Chapter 13. So Near and Yet So Far

Chapter 14. Circle of Light

Chapter 15. Where Have They All Gone?

Chapter 16. The Witchin' Net

Chapter 17. Logan's Plan

Chapter 18. Can't We Just Have Fun?

Part 3.

Chapter 19. Deception

Chapter 20. Interview

Chapter 21. Logan the Grouch

Chapter 22. Difference of Opinion

Chapter 23. New Surroundings

Chapter 24. Cramped Quarters

Chapter 25. Are We Having Fun Yet?

Chapter 26. Wheeee!

Chapter 27. The Uninvited

Chapter 28. Panic Move

Chapter 29. The Man in the Moon

Chapter 30. Secrets

Chapter 31. Departure

Part 4.

Chapter 32. The Boy Who Wasn't There

Chapter 33. Revelations

Part 5.

Chapter 34. How Do You Tell Your Friends?

Chapter 35. New Beginnings

Preface

After having written six earlier mystery-thriller type novels for adult or young adult readers, my wife suggested I do something I had never considered—write a book for children.

Although I dismissed the idea at first, I came to realize that my earlier books had missed a large part of my personal market—a dozen young grandchildren! It occurred to me that I might enjoy creating something for that market. And if other youngsters enjoyed it, too, that would be a wonderful thing.

So, I began to write a book for our grandchildren.

Specifically, I targeted the nine-to-twelve-year age group, with the expectation that the younger ones would someday read the book also. It turns out that all of the younger grandchildren are girls—hence, the heroine of this novel, eleven-year old Star Bell.

The concept I had of a book for children was very much influenced by my youthful enjoyment of the original Nancy Drew Mysteries, which were illustrated quite simply and beautifully with black-and-white sketches. Thus, I decided early on that the novel had to be illustrated. Unfortunately, I never excelled in graphic arts. Undeterred, I proceeded to create sketches that corresponded to my vision of scenes in the book. I planned to provide these sketches eventually to a professional illustrator, if and when the book were ever published. But I wanted my sketches to accompany the preliminary version of the book that would be distributed to our grandchildren.

The feedback from grandchildren and many others—adults and children, alike—persuaded me to publish the book and to retain my original sketches for illustrations. The sketches are primitive, to be sure, but they do reflect the author’s vision of the characters, settings and action.

Although this is a children’s book, it is influenced by my penchant for mystery-thrillers and futuristic themes. And, because I had such fun writing this first novel, I’m looking forward to many future adventures of Star Bell and her friends.

Sam Perone

September, 2010

Part 1.

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Magic

Chapter 1. Crystal and Logan

Star Bell had a secret.

No, not that BIG secret that she couldn’t tell anyone…ever…not even her very best friend, Crystal.

Star kept the big secret by simply never thinking about it.

But she couldn’t stop thinking about what Logan had whispered to her…

Star had wanted more information. But Logan had donned his jet-shoes and scooted off to the Dome with the other sixth-grade boys on his Space Trooper team. Logan had shouted over his shoulder that the team had reached the world cyberspace semifinals.

Star couldn’t have cared less.

But she did care about Logan—much more than any of the boys in her own fifth-grade study pod. Most boys were, well, annoying.

But not Logan.

He was…what? Grown-up? Interesting?

Star didn’t know.

She did know that Logan liked her. NO—not like that, she caught herself.

Logan was a friend—like Crystal—but a boy. Wasn’t that okay?

Star suddenly remembered her homework. Her hands fluttered over the three-dimensional keyboard image floating on her lap. She leaned back against the bed’s headboard and switched off her headset. Instantly, the homework questions vanished from her vision. She hadn’t been paying attention anyway.

Star replayed Logan’s whispered secret in her mind.

She smiled. This wasn’t anything like the big secret. This was exciting. This would be fun.

But Logan had warned her—Don’t tell anybody!

Surely he didn’t mean she couldn’t tell Crystal, she thought.

Star switched the headset back on. The homework images reappeared, but she quickly punched in Crystal’s access code.

Crystal’s big hazel eyes and curly black hair appeared.

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Star punched in the access code, and Crystal’s big hazel eyes and curly black hair appeared.

Hi, Star! Crystal exclaimed, exposing big white teeth in a broad smile. Did you catch the Venus Dolls concert? They broadcast direct from New Mars City!

No, I was doing math, Star replied.

Yucch! Crystal made a face. Then she added, excitedly, "Barbie Ringo was so supernova! She wore that grandy silver outfit. So coool!"

Crystal, I have to tell you something, Star blurted.

Crystal blinked, and her face showed concern. What is it?

Star shook her head. It’s nothing bad.

Crystal peered back, waiting for Star to speak.

It’s about Logan— Star began.

What? Crystal interrupted. "When did you see him?" Her eyes narrowed.

Star didn’t need to be reminded that Crystal didn’t like Logan. Crystal didn’t like any boys. Not that she could blame her. But Logan was different…

Crystal, cut it out, Star shot back. Logan’s nice.

So, what did he do?

"He didn’t do anything," Star insisted. "It’s what he’s planning to do."

"Logan and his friends couldn’t do anything I’d be interested in," Crystal sniffed.

"Don’t be mean. He’s doing something nice." Star glared at Crystal.

Crystal made a sour face and rolled her eyes.

Star reacted by angrily tearing off the headset and banishing Crystal’s face. Crystal might beg her to tell, but Star would never, never, ever…

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Later that same evening, with her homework finished, Star received a call from Logan. She adjusted her headset, and Logan’s ruddy face appeared. Tomorrow, after school, Logan announced excitedly, we can get into my dad’s lab.

How? Star asked. SysTech has a big fence and guards and everything.

"I’m talking about his home lab."

He won’t mind? Star asked, remembering that her own father’s study was always securely locked.

He won’t know, Logan declared. My parents will be gone. And I know how to get in.

I…I don’t know, said Star. We’ll get in trouble.

Trust me, Logan insisted. No one will ever find out.

Have you done this before? Star asked.

Logan passed a hand over his short black hair and looked away. When he looked back, his face had grown wrinkles between the pair of brown eyes. Yeah…I’ve done it.

You mean you’ve gone—

Stop! he shouted, and Star caught herself before blurting out the secret.

I’m sorry, she said. But I didn’t know you had…you know…

I had to test it, Logan insisted.

Oooh! What happened? Star asked excitedly.

You’ll see…tomorrow, Logan replied. You’re coming with me, aren’t you?

Well…yes, Star murmured. She couldn’t let Logan know how scared she was.

"Good. See you after school…and don’t forget your book." Logan’s big grin was the last image to vanish as he switched off.

Chapter 2. Secret Meeting

Star hadn’t been inside Logan’s family apartment before. It was one of hundreds in a big skyscraper. But theirs was special. It was located on the 59th floor, the very top of the building. And it was extra large because of his dad’s laboratory.

Carrying the book he had asked her to bring, Star followed Logan through the maze of rooms until they found themselves in front of a wide steel door. Only a large keypad, displaying the numbers 0 to 9, spoiled the smooth surface of the door.

Logan stepped up to the door and punched in a long series of numbers. After he entered the last number, they heard the whir of a small motor coming from inside the door. This was followed by a loud clank, and the door swung slowly into the dark laboratory.

Star peered into the darkness. There were no windows to let sunlight into the lab, but tiny little lights were spread about the room, like the beady eyes of frightening nighttime creatures. Clutching her book to her chest, Star took a step back.

Come on, Star, Logan called over his shoulder, as he flipped a light switch and scurried into the lab.

With the spooky darkness gone, Star could now see the large collection of electronic gadgets whose tiny indicator lights had seemed so terrifying in the dark. But she was no less frightened.

In the center of the lab were four large reclining seats—like those in the dentist’s office. Surrounding each recliner was a maze of wires. On each recliner was a large round plastic object that looked like a helmet. Dozens of wires—of different bright colors—reached from each helmet to the electronic gear stacked behind each recliner.

Star watched Logan head straight for