Aliens on Vacation

13-year-old David discovers that his grandmother's inn is a portal for comical aliens from all over the universe---a secret that, until now, she has been able to keep from her small town.

Scrub isn't happy about having to spend the summer with his hippie grandmother in "Middle of Nowhere," Washington. When he arrives at her Intergalactic Bed & Breakfast, he's not surprised by its 1960s-meets-Star Wars decor; but he is surprised by the weird looking guests. It turns out that each room in the inn is a portal and his grandma is the gatekeeper, allowing aliens to vacation on Earth. She desperately needs Scrub's help with disguising the tourists as humans. As if that weren't difficult enough, the town sheriff is already suspicious of Granny. One wrong move and Scrub could blow Grandma's cover, forcing the B&B to shut down forever. And when it comes to aliens, every move seems wrong . . .

Full of cosmic chaos and mind-bending mayhem, Scrub's summer adventure will leave readers wanting to make a return trip.

Short-listed for Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award (Grades 3-5) 2015

“"It's hard to find good, fresh middle school science fiction, and what makes Clete Barrett Smith's story so endearing is his focus on the theme of tolerance, a timely subject with the new anti-bullying legislation. Tweens will easily relate to Scrub who longs for adult attention and wants to feel needed and fit in with his peers. Little bits of humor...add interest."-- School Library Journal”

"It's hard to find good, fresh middle school science fiction, and what makes Clete Barrett Smith's story so endearing is his focus on the theme of tolerance, a timely subject with the new anti-bullying legislation. Tweens will easily relate to Scrub who longs for adult attention and wants to feel needed and fit in with his peers. Little bits of humor...add interest."--School Library Journal
"With goofy alien illustrations to kick start each chapter, this tale explores the confusion of impending teen-hood and the importance of a sense of purpose, plus how cool it would be to have friendly aliens living among us. Ideal for upper-elementary readers dabbling in sci-fi."--Kirkus Reviews

Clete Barrett Smith was a teacher for over ten years in Bellingham, WA and has won several screenwriting awards. It took him about two years to get from idea to book deal, sneaking in an hour or two in the afternoons and dedicating his Sundays to writing, all while working toward his master's degree at Vermont College. He credits support from his wife, Myra, and two young daughters for getting him through the rigorous process. He used his experiences in the small towns and forested mountains of the Pacific Northwest when writing Aliens on Vacation and this book. He is currently working on a third adventure set in the Intergalactic Bed & Breakfast.

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