Imitation Alien
About
I was ten years old the day I found out I was an alien.
At least, that’s what the kids at school called me. With a strange birthmark and a name like Sagittarius, I’ve tried to stay invisible.
Then a stranger showed up at my school—and everything changed.
He knew my name. He was terrified. And before I could ask why, he was taken by the military. After that, I found out that my mom’s been lying to me my whole life. Black cars started appearing in town, and my friends wouldn’t stop asking questions they shouldn’t.
That’s when we found it: an old recorder, a strange frequency, and a pattern of pulses that makes something inside me respond—like my body recognized it.
The signal won’t stop. My birthmark is changing. And the more we dig into the past, the clearer it becomes: something was hidden here a long time ago.
Something connected to me.
THE PULSE IN HER VEINS MATCHED A RHYTHM FROM THE STARS.
IMITATION ALIEN is a fast-paced YA sci-fi thriller about the lies we tell ourselves—and the truth we can’t escape.
Trailer
Praise for this book
Imitation Alien pulled me in from the beginning and didn't let go. As always Colleen Helme brings a story that is compelling and entertaining. I know there are many adults who will enjoy it as much as I have, and, as a retired school librarian, I have no doubt that junior high through high school readers will be as enchanted as me.
Highly enjoyable read for sci-fi readers of all ages who enjoy alien mysteries, government cover-ups, strange signals, and heroines caught between who they were told they are and who they may actually be. Highly recommend!
Colleen Helme masterfully blends mystery, adventure, and heart into a story that’s both fun and compelling. If you enjoy alien conspiracies, government cover-ups, and stories of self-discovery, Imitation Alien is a must-read. Highly recommended!
Imitation Alien is an absolute delight from start to finish. The premise is imaginative and fresh, exploring humanity through the eyes of an outsider with wit, humor, and surprising emotional depth. The writing balances sharp satire with heartfelt moments, making it both entertaining and deeply meaningful.
The characters are memorable, the world building is vivid, and the themes—greed, resilience, morality, and hope—resonate long after you’ve turned the last page. It feels like a modern companion to the classics of Asimov and Heinlein, yet stands firmly on its own as a unique voice in science fiction.
If you enjoy sci fi that makes you think while keeping you thoroughly entertained, Imitation Alien is a must read. Highly recommended!