Message From Krumar

About the Book

Thirteen-year-old LISA STEVENS lives in the town of Lindenville with her adoptive parents, JIM and RUTH STEVENS, and her cat, FLUFFY.  Early on, she senses her parents’ alarm and no longer speaks of the strange VOICE that seems to come from within, a Voice that has warned her away from danger for as long as she can remember.   Neither does she mention the way her skin heals instantaneously, leaving absolutely no trace of an injury.

Lisa believes the Voice is her guardian angel until he informs her that she must soon return to her original home, a faraway planet called Krumar.  Although his cryptic message fills her with despair, Lisa tries to hide her feelings from her family.  She cannot bring herself to share her dilemma with her friends, not even her birthday twin, DAVID GRAYSON,

Finally, unable to bear her burden alone, Lisa confides in her aunt, JESSICA LAMBERT.  Her aunt repeats the story of the custodian who insisted that Lisa was smiling when he found her on the steps of the Lindenville Orphanage.  At the hospital, the doctors determine she is five days old and in perfect health.  No one comes forward to claim her and the authorities try, but fail, to locate her birth parents.

The Voice returns.  He informs Lisa that she is a citizen of the Planet Krumar.  He tells her that the people on his planet remain everlastingly youthful due to scientists having discovered a way to deactivate the aging gene.  She also learns that the ability to heal herself is considered normal in his flawless world.        

Fearful that the Voice will soon force her to leave Earth forever, Lisa feels a need to do something worthwhile with whatever remaining time she may have on Earth.  The Lindenville Nursing home gladly accepts her as a volunteer, and she soon becomes involved with the care of patients.  

One night while visiting Lisa, her best girlfriend, MARCY, notices that Lisa has a double row of eyelashes and no apparent pores.  Although petrified, afraid her secrets are beginning to unravel, Lisa makes light of Marcy’s observation, but suspects that her friend is not fooled.

When Lisa learns that her mother has made an appointment for her with DOCTOR BURKE, she becomes uneasy.  She is afraid that a technician will take a picture of her brain and find it unlike other brains, then her parents will learn that she is an alien.  Lisa cannot bear for them to know the truth about her.

Lisa passes her physical with flying colors only to learn that Doctor Burke has suggested that Mom take her to see DOCTOR JAMISON, a psychologist.  She fears this head doctor will somehow cause her to accidentally tell him about the Voice.

The Voice steps up the frequency of his visits.  He tells Lisa that robots have taken over all mundane tasks including the care of the children.  The parents are free to amuse themselves in whatever way they choose.  This information disturbs Lisa, who feels that all children need a mom and dad to care for them.  His perfect world is beginning to sound flawed.

MR. LESTER, the nursing home director, approves of Lisa’s idea to set up a regular pet visitor program for the patients.  She, Marcy, David and their friends MIKE, CHASE, JENNIFER, GREG, AND ELENA, agree to bring their critters by at a prearranged time and put on a pet show.

When Lisa visits the psychologist he administers a number of tests, then tells Mom and Dad that Lisa is super smart.  Afraid her friends will find out, she makes her parents promise not to tell.

The Voice returns to congratulate Lisa on her test results.  He tells her that her high scores are perfectly normal, that on his planet everyone possesses extremely high intelligence.  He continues his dialogue with Lisa about her homeland, and says that his people are similar in appearance to the inhabitants of Earth.  He refuses t

About the Author

As a child the author lived with her family in a valley totally surrounded by the magnificent mountains of eastern Tennessee. Both she and her brother were fascinated by the muddy creek which meandered through the family farm. She remembers that they once wired five worm-holed logs together to make a crude pontoon. However, due to the sorry condition of the wood, the raft refused to stay on top of the water, but rather floated half-submerged. Since it was wintertime and they were not allowed to go barefoot, they rolled up their jeans and rode down the creek, feet in the air and bare knees placed on top of the sinking logs. Unfortunately, the grand adventure ended when Dad found out.