Jillian vs Parasite Planet

“Fantastic worldbuilding, a hero you can’t help but root for, and the best sidekick this side of the galaxy.”
—Katie Slivensky, author of The Countdown Conspiracy

Cover and Interior Illustrations by Scott Brown

Can an anxious eleven-year-old find her chill and save her family from creepy aliens? Only if she’s the most awesome, super-brave astronaut since Spaceman Spiff! So take a deep breath, grab your sidekick, and blast off with Jillian to Parasite Planet.

Eleven-year-old Jillian hates surprises. Even fun ones make her feel all panicky inside. But, she’s always dreamed of joining her space-explorer parents on a mission. It’s Take Your Kid to Work Day, and Jillian finally has her chance to visit an alien world!

The journey to Planet 80 UMa c is supposed to be just a fun camping trip. But then the local wildlife starts acting really dangerous. Only the onboard computer SABRINA sorta knows what’s happening—at least when it’s not goofing off or telling bad jokes.

Looks like it’s Jillian vs Parasite Planet—and Jillian is determined to win!

About the author: Nicole Kornher-Stace is the author of the Norton Award finalist, Archivist Wasp, and its sequel, Latchkey, which are about a postapocalyptic ghosthunter, the ghost of a near-future supersoldier, and their adventures in the underworld. She has two more books due out in 2021: the sci-fi thriller, Firebreak, and of course, Jillian Vs. Parasite Planet. You can find Nicole on Twitter @wirewalking, where she is probably semicoherently yelling about board games, video games, hiking, aromantic representation, good books she’s read recently, or her cat. She lives in New Paltz, New York with her family. About the illustrator: Scott Brown has produced work for television commercials, magazines, toys, and comics. He spends his free time at his drafting board working on creations of his own. Originally from the seaport of Gloucester, Massachusetts, Scott currently resides on the South-west gulf coast of Florida (he can’t stand living too far from the ocean) with his wife, two daughters, and a rather affable pug named Linus Van Pelt. And he is very happy to report that his girls have been inspired to pick up the pencil and let their imaginations loose on paper as he once did all those years ago.

“Action, science, and creepy crawly creatures. This is everything I ever wanted in an all-ages space adventure.”
—Landry Walker, author of Star Wars Adventures

“A fast-paced story of survival—in the face of alien worms and your own anxieties—with a hero kids will relate to and a robot sidekick they’ll wish they could take to school!”
—Gareth Wronski, author of Holly Farb and the Princess of the Galaxy

“Look out Heinlein, here comes Nicole Kornher-Stace! In her middle grade novel, Jillian vs Parasite Planet, she not only does a Heinlein space explorer, but her young female hero, with hands full of science and parasites, manages to grow up as well. Huzzah! Great space fun with a lot of ick thrown in as well.”
—Jane Yolen, author of The Midnight Circus

“I like a book that keeps the reader posted on what everybody has to eat. Also, I like a book with worms, (in the story, not in the physical book). Not many books have worms. This one does. It’s a romp. It’s a space romp. It’s a romping story in which food is mentioned, and there are worms, and a neat kid who’s realer than some kids you meet in books.”
—Daniel Pinkwater, author of The Hoboken Chicken Emergency

“Jillian vs Parasite Planet is a thrilling middle-grade sci-fi novel, with a plucky and ingenious hero who never gives up, and an A.I. partner we all wish we could have.”
—Samantha M Clark, author of The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast

“Freaking delightful.”
—Blogendorff

    *Review copy mailings to leading newspaper, magazine, and fiction reviewers, and specialty middle grade- and fantasy-oriented outlets
    *Digital ARCs available via NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Goodreads; additional print available upon request
    *Online promotional rollout to include blog tour, interviews, radio, and podcasts
   * Social media push by the author and publisher via Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/Goodreads
    *Author appearances at bookstores, trade shows, genre-themed conventions, and virtual events TBD