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Last Day on Mars on February 14, 2017 Genres: Science Fiction
Pages: 336
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It is Earth year 2213—but, of course, there is no Earth anymore. Not since it was burned to a cinder by the sun, which has mysteriously begun the process of going supernova far sooner than anyone expected. The human race has fled to Mars, but this was only a temporary solution while we have prepared for a second trip: a 150-year journey to a distant star, our best guess at where we might find a new home.
Liam Saunders-Chang is one of the last humans left on Mars. The son of two scientists who have been racing against time to create technology vital to humanity’s survival, Liam, along with his friend Phoebe, will be on the last starliner to depart before Mars, like Earth before it, is destroyed.
Or so he thinks. Because before this day is over, Liam and Phoebe will make a series of profound discoveries about the nature of time and space and find out that the human race is just one of many in our universe locked in a dangerous struggle for survival.
Praise for
LAST DAY ON MARS
“Emerson’s writing explodes off the page in this irresistible space adventure, filled with startling plot twists, diabolical aliens, and (my favorite!) courageous young heroes faced with an impossible task.” —Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of The Unwanteds series
“Last Day on Mars is thrillingly ambitious and imaginative, a rousing space opera for any age, meticulously researched and relentlessly paced. A fantastic start to an epic new series.” —Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil
“This is perfect science fiction: a terrifying yet very cool vision of the future, lots of technological awesomeness, mind-bending alien mysteries, a mission to save the human race—and two funny, resourceful, very real kid heroes who I’d follow to the edges of the universe.” —Tui Sutherland, New York Times bestselling author of the Wings of Fire series
“A hugely enjoyable blend of adventure, humor, science, and kids trying to find their place when humanity itself doesn’t have one.” —Emma Trevayne, author of The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden
“Action-packed science-fiction adventure.” —Brightly.com
Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson is the first book in the Chronicle of the Dark Star series. It is a middle grade, science fiction adventure that had me needing to know what was going to happen next.
Our main character is Liam. He’s lived his whole life on Mars, but all that is about to change. Due to the changing sun, humans must leave Mars and set out for a far-away planet that they hope will sustain human life. I was completely intrigued with this story. The concept that Earth had been destroyed by the sun, and that humans lived on Mars, was too interesting to pass up. I do not always read science fiction. When I do, the story needs to feel plausible to me, and Mr. Emerson achieved that with Last Day on Mars. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to put the story down.
The author does a great job of character and world building that pulls you in to Last Day on Mars and doesn’t let you go. Liam is much braver than I would be in his shoes. The book is suggested for ages 8-12, though I think that I would be more likely to recommend this to children 11 and up. It was not difficult to understand, but just some of the concepts as well as the length of the book would have me recommending it to children and teen readers who are at least 11. At the library, I would categorize this as upper middle grade – young adult. Also, I don’t want to give anything away, but please know that there is a cliffhanger ending. I can’t wait to see what happens in the second book of the series.
Be sure to add Last Day on Mars on Goodreads.
