Last Day on Mars
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

*Starred Review* Earth's sun is steadily expanding, and by the year 2213, the little blue marble has already been charred to a crisp. Luckily, humans have found a temporary home on Mars, where they're building massive ships and terraforming technology in preparation for a 150-year journey to a more habitable planet far away from the soon-to-supernova sun. Liam and Phoebe are the last kids left on the Red Planet, and they're waiting for their parents to perfect one last project before they get in their starliner and begin their journey to the new world. But as the kids do one last round of exploring their Martian colony the only home they've ever known they're waylaid by a huge obstacle: sabotage. As Liam and Phoebe try to catch up to their starliner and warn them before they're left behind, they make an even bigger discovery: unbeknownst to humans, there are other beings in the universe. Emerson has clearly done his research and includes lots of actual Mars features and space science into the more imaginative sci-fi elements, such as a time-traveling watch salvaged from a mysterious alien ship, which helps Liam see the future of potential choices. With high-stakes tension, propulsive action, multidimensional characters, and vivid scenes, this well-wrought and thrilling series starter is perfect for middle-graders who prefer their sci-fi to be grounded in the realm of the possible.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2017 Booklist

In the year 2213, as humanity abandons the dying solar system ahead of the sun going supernova, several children are drawn into a death-defying, time-and-space-twisting adventure. Liam and Phoebe, both 13, are supposed to be on the last colony ship off of Mars, but their parents must finish vital terraforming experiments before they can leave, in order to ensure that humanity's new home will be habitable. When the Scorpius is forced to depart without them, Liam and Phoebe must figure out a way to catch up to the ship before they're left behind forever. In the process, they encounter alien forces that may have caused Earth's destruction, forces that won't be content until humans are extinct. This first installment of the Chronicle of the Dark Star trilogy is ambitious, exciting, and just a shade terrifying; Emerson (the Exile series) suffuses his story with a sense of melancholy and loss, even though his young protagonists never lived on Earth themselves. While much of the novel serves to set up the next books, it's a satisfying, if unsettling, beginning. Ages 8-12. Agent: Robert Guinsler, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Gr 4-8-The year is 2213. Earth has been destroyed, thanks to the sun turning into a supernova far sooner than anyone expected. The humans who are left in the solar system reside on Mars, which will soon meet the same fate as Earth. In order to survive, they plan to colonize a distant planet named Aaru-5. Thirteen-year-old Liam was born on Mars. His whole life, his scientist parents have worked long hours doing vital experiments for the Mars-to-Aaru-5 transition. On the day when the last starliner spaceship will leave for Aaru-5, almost all of the 100 million remaining Martian residents are already on board. Liam and his best friend Phoebe remain on the ground, waiting for their parents to finish work at their research facility. The two teens expect to spend the day idly awaiting their departure. Instead, they end up discovering an invisible research lab, appropriating some seriously advanced 4-D alien technology, saving their parents from a fiery explosion, flying through space with an artificially intelligent panda named JEFF, and racing to catch up with the last starliner so they can deliver important information that might be the key to saving humanity. (Oh, and also so they won't be left behind forever.) While complex at times, this series opener is action-packed and entertaining. With a focus on space and time travel, including well-researched and accurate science, the novel will be an easy sell for sci-fi enthusiasts. VERDICT This fast-paced adventure story is recommended wherever science fiction is in high demand.-Liz Overberg, Zionsville Community High School, IN © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

When Earths star begins to fail and starts the process of going supernova, the people of Earth retreat to Mars to win a few more years to build the fleet of spaceships that will take them to a new planet many light-years distant. Now, in Earth year 2213, with the last ships departure from Mars less than twenty-four hours away, teens Liam and Phoebe must bid farewell to the only home theyve ever known. In the course of their nostalgic rounds, however, they discover a formerly concealed observation post that contains evidence of extraterrestrial life. A watch-like piece of alien technology Liam acquires there gives him the ability to observe future events--including the future act of sabotage that kills his and Phoebes scientist parents and dooms the human exodus, unless he and Phoebe can stop it. A prelude to the book establishes the alien observation post and time manipulation technology, and although the body of the book doesnt maintain the preludes humorous tone, once the action starts up its so hard-driving that the incongruity is of little account. Emerson doesnt stint on the stakes (the survival of humanity) or the magnitude of danger (alien star saboteurs, human technology saboteurs, the harsh environment itself) in this thrilling space adventure--with enormous scope for further exploration in future installments. anita l. burkam (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

*Starred Review* Earth's sun is steadily expanding, and by the year 2213, the little blue marble has already been charred to a crisp. Luckily, humans have found a temporary home on Mars, where they're building massive ships and terraforming technology in preparation for a 150-year journey to a more habitable planet far away from the soon-to-supernova sun. Liam and Phoebe are the last kids left on the Red Planet, and they're waiting for their parents to perfect one last project before they get in their starliner and begin their journey to the new world. But as the kids do one last round of exploring their Martian colony—the only home they've ever known—they're waylaid by a huge obstacle: sabotage. As Liam and Phoebe try to catch up to their starliner and warn them before they're left behind, they make an even bigger discovery: unbeknownst to humans, there are other beings in the universe. Emerson has clearly done his research and includes lots of actual Mars features and space science into the more imaginative sci-fi elements, such as a time-traveling watch salvaged from a mysterious alien ship, which helps Liam see the future of potential choices. With high-stakes tension, propulsive action, multidimensional characters, and vivid scenes, this well-wrought and thrilling series starter is perfect for middle-graders who prefer their sci-fi to be grounded in the realm of the possible. Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.

In the year 2213, as humanity abandons the dying solar system ahead of the sun going supernova, several children are drawn into a death-defying, time-and-space-twisting adventure. Liam and Phoebe, both 13, are supposed to be on the last colony ship off of Mars, but their parents must finish vital terraforming experiments before they can leave, in order to ensure that humanity's new home will be habitable. When the Scorpius is forced to depart without them, Liam and Phoebe must figure out a way to catch up to the ship before they're left behind forever. In the process, they encounter alien forces that may have caused Earth's destruction, forces that won't be content until humans are extinct. This first installment of the Chronicle of the Dark Star trilogy is ambitious, exciting, and just a shade terrifying; Emerson (the Exile series) suffuses his story with a sense of melancholy and loss, even though his young protagonists never lived on Earth themselves. While much of the novel serves to set up the next books, it's a satisfying, if unsettling, beginning. Ages 8–12. Agent: Robert Guinsler, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Feb.) Copyright 2016 Publisher Weekly.

Gr 4–8—The year is 2213. Earth has been destroyed, thanks to the sun turning into a supernova far sooner than anyone expected. The humans who are left in the solar system reside on Mars, which will soon meet the same fate as Earth. In order to survive, they plan to colonize a distant planet named Aaru-5. Thirteen-year-old Liam was born on Mars. His whole life, his scientist parents have worked long hours doing vital experiments for the Mars-to-Aaru-5 transition. On the day when the last starliner spaceship will leave for Aaru-5, almost all of the 100 million remaining Martian residents are already on board. Liam and his best friend Phoebe remain on the ground, waiting for their parents to finish work at their research facility. The two teens expect to spend the day idly awaiting their departure. Instead, they end up discovering an invisible research lab, appropriating some seriously advanced 4-D alien technology, saving their parents from a fiery explosion, flying through space with an artificially intelligent panda named JEFF, and racing to catch up with the last starliner so they can deliver important information that might be the key to saving humanity. (Oh, and also so they won't be left behind forever.) While complex at times, this series opener is action-packed and entertaining. With a focus on space and time travel, including well-researched and accurate science, the novel will be an easy sell for sci-fi enthusiasts. VERDICT This fast-paced adventure story is recommended wherever science fiction is in high demand.—Liz Overberg, Zionsville Community High School, IN