Publication
date: August 18, 2015
Publisher:
Tantrum Books/Month9Books, LLC.
Author:
Charles Curtis
Alexander
Graham Ptuiac, the son of an inventor, wants to play for the school’s football
team. During tryouts, and under the watchful eye of the team’s coach, he
suddenly manifests mysterious superhuman powers. Alexander makes the team, but
not before the some ill-intended adults take notice, putting his life in
danger.
Alex
struggles to suppress and control his strange new abilities, worried about
exposing his secret and being kicked off the football team. Then he befriends
Dex, a diminutive classmate who can somehow jump as high as ten feet in the
air. Seems Alex isn’t the only one at school with a secret.
As
the school year unfolds, Alex will find himself the target of bullies, holding
hands with his first crush and discovering the shocking truth about himself and
his parents.
Excerpt
(There’s
something weird about Sophi, the girl who Alex has a crush on. During their
first date that includes a train trip into the nearest city, they find
themselves in the middle of the equivalent of New York City’s Times Square)
“You’re
like all the tourists. You can’t stop looking at all the pretty lights,” she said
as we weaved our way through the foot traffic.
“You
have to admit, this is incredible for someone who hasn’t been here before.”
“I
guess.” We stopped at a corner and waited for a green light.
Sophi
looked down the block at the scene, the endless colored lights dancing on her
face. She stared up at one of the signs, which featured a massive cup of soup
with actual steam rising out of it.
“I
can sort of see it. Just imagine how much energy it takes to keep everything running,”
she said as she put her hand against the streetlamp.
The
light above her immediately went out, as did the stoplight connected to it. I opened
my mouth to wonder aloud what had happened, but nothing came out as we watched
as the signs ahead of us began shutting down one by one. One second a screen was
filled with a skinny woman drinking a soda. The next second, gone. The steaming
soup was no longer illuminated, and the blinking lights around an advertisement
for a new musical stopped.
“Sophi?”
I
felt someone reach out to grab my arm.
Zzzst!
As
I yelped from the shock, everything came on again all at once, temporarily blinding
me and the rest of the mob around us. There was a buzz of concern as everyone wondered
what had happened.
“Probably
a temporary blackout. I‘ve seen it happen,” Sophi said immediately before I
could ask. I looked at her quizzically as people started walking around us.
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ABOUT CHARLES CURTIS
Charles
Curtis is a writer and journalist based in New York City. He has reported and
written for publications including NJ.com (where he is currently the site’s
sports buzz reporter), The Daily, ESPN.com, ESPN the Magazine, Bleacher Report,
TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly. Charles has covered the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA,
golf, tennis and NASCAR. He has also written about television, film and pop
culture.
In
addition, Curtis has also written, produced and was featured in videos for
ESPN.com and The Daily. He has made radio appearances on stations including
92.9 The Ticket in Bangor, Maine, WLIE 540 AM in Long Island and on morning
shows across Canada via the CBC.
He
can be reached on Twitter: @charlescurtis82.
Connect with the Author
Giveaway
Five (5) winners will
receive a digital copy of Strange Country Day by Charles Curtis (INT)
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