The Space Monster

By Bryan Kwasnik and Jackie Hahn

It’s the night of the big meteor shower, but Lana can’t see a thing. While her brother continues to hog the telescope, Lana notices a mysterious shadow run across the street. She follows it to an alien space ship parked in the nearby woods. Lana is amazed by the ship, but is shocked when it suddenly takes off with her inside. Now, she’s stuck on board with a strange monster while Earth is getting farther and farther away…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781716398599

Book preview

The Space Monster

Copyright ©2019 by Bryan Kwasnik and Jackie Hahn

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Second Printing, 2020

ISBN 978-1-716-39859-9

www.bryankwasnik.com

www.jackiehahn.com

The Space Monster

Written by Bryan Kwasnik

Illustrated by Jackie Hahn

To my sister, Kaitlyn.

For all the times I thought I was too cool to spend time with you.

A person standing in front of a mirror posing for the camera Description automatically generated

Chapter 1

Lana tugged forcefully on her brother’s shirt. Marcos had been hogging the telescope all night even though it was supposed to be for both of them. She was waiting patiently, but it was as if she wasn’t there at all.

Sometimes Lana wondered if anyone would notice if she ran away. Maybe she could leave for a whole year and come back without the slightest suspicion from her parents and brother. Instead of where have you been? they would simply ask Lana if she cleaned her room.

Lana stared at the full moon above. It had an orange glow to it. It means something about the temperature tomorrow, she thought, but I forget what. Thousands of stars twinkled in the cloudless sky.

They were at the edge of their backyard, inches away from the fields of dandelions and wildflowers that separated their house from the street parallel to them. The floodlights above the deck had been left on for them, which made it too bright for their purpose. So they stood in the darkness.

It was early spring and the nights were still cold. Lana zipped her jacket to the top as a chill wind blew by. She shivered and hugged herself.

Come on, Marcos! she whined through chattering teeth. I need to go in soon.

So go, he said dismissively.

I want to see!

You don’t even know how to use it.

Then teach me!

No.

I’ll tell mom.

I don’t care.

Lana let out a muffled scream as she stomped the wet grass. She was ready to storm inside the house and slam the door. Maybe she should lock Marcus out. That would teach him.

The two children were up way past their bedtimes, but their parents made an exception for this night. They were waiting for a meteor shower – any second hundreds of rocks would streak across the sky. If they missed it, who knows how many years until they’d get a chance to see it again.

Even that night the chances had been slim. A nor’easter was meant to blow over their town, flooding the sky with dark clouds heavy with rain. Luckily the storm was quicker