An Adventure Story with a Boy, An Alien and A Street Kid set in Toronto's Ontario Science Centre Sarwat Perrin's adventure novel for children and preteens, The Weird Adventures of Virgo Capella, is a fun and fast-paced thriller of a story about a young boy who is suddenly swept up in a world of danger and intrigue. Virgo and his little sister, Lyra, are grand characters, and the plot of this story works wonderfully. I especially loved the astronomical thread that pervades this appealing story. Perrin also works in the stresses and emotional strains that affect children when their parents separate. Then there's the magical moment when Virgo transforms himself from being a somewhat self-obsessed kid into a force for good against superior odds, and that's a marvelous transformation indeed. The Weird Adventures of Virgo Capella is highly recommended. Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Twelve-year-old Virgo Capella is angry. He dislikes his stepfather, who projects his own childhood dreams of space travel on an unwilling Virgo. And he's stuck babysitting his bright, precocious little sister, Lyra.
While searching the local park for his lost pet snake, Virgo and Lyra encounter two odd street kids. Scorpio, a tough, guarded kid who's estranged from his father, and Biham, who looks like he just stepped off a spaceship. Lyra feels drawn to the strange and malnourished boy and cajoles Virgo to take him home. Scorpio tags along.
When a threatening cadre of ET hunters offers a reward for the capture of an extraterrestrial, Virgo, Lyra, and Scorpio begin to wonder if Biham is, indeed, from outer space. If so, they need to keep him safe-and, ultimately, get him home. Their time's limited. Enemies are closing in, and Biham needs space food. If they can't get him home fast, he's going to starve.
A fast-paced adventure with a focus on science and the universe's many wonders, The Weird Adventures of Virgo Capella reminds readers that everyone-even aliens-needs understanding friends.
"Original and fun, with an impressive list of baddies. Join Virgo and his pals on this wild and wacky adventure, as they experience science in a whole new way."
"- Angela Dorsey, author of numerous juvenile fiction books published in Canada and in various countries
About the Author: Sarah Perrin was brought up zigzagging the globe in many different countries: Iran, Pakistan, Switzerland, Spain and the U.S. before landing in Canada.
Sarah holds a bachelor's of design degree from OCAD University in Toronto. Her time at OCAD spurred her imagination and taught her the value of creative thinking.
Inspired by her travels and her stint at a major publishing company, where she worked for many years in the marketing and promotion department, she writes contemporary adventure stories with a twist of the supernatural. Her job required considerable research in child-related topics, including the importance of play and curiosity in learning.
She is also a teacher, star-marveller, and a devotee of science, loves geocaching and hiking in the great outdoors, and the magic of colour. Sarah lives in Toronto with her husband, who claims they are the world's oldest children - she heartily agrees.
The Weird Adventures of Virgo Capella is her debut novel.
