The Oceans between Stars

November 1, 2017

Gr 4-8-This sequel to Last Day on Mars picks up where the first book left off, with 13-year-olds Liam and Phoebe traveling through space on their small ship, hoping to rendezvous with the large starliners that are taking the rest of the human race from Mars to the next planet they plan to colonize, Aaru-5. With their aging ship being piloted by a robot that is decades overdue for maintenance, Phoebe and Liam's journey was never going to be easy. Add to that the stress of their parents (all currently in stasis) needing medical help and not one but two species of aliens working to sabotage the humans' mission to Aaru-5, and the stakes for the two teens have never been higher. Their best hope for survival seems to be Liam's wristwatch, stolen from a secret alien laboratory on Mars, which allows Liam to see backward and forward in time. At first, Liam uses the watch to help him make small decisions. Soon, though, Liam realizes that the watch is changing him in ways that he struggles to understand. He begins to question his best friend Phoebe, his parents, and everything he thought he knew about the universe. This well-written and exciting sequel is extremely heavy on complex science, particularly time travel and the multiverse theory. Emerson, who has clearly done his research, uses humor and age-appropriate metaphors to present the science in a way that readers will be able to understand. VERDICT Highly recommended for young science fiction enthusiasts and those who enjoyed the first installment.-Liz Overberg, Zionsville Community High School, IN

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2017
Between Liam and the starliner carrying his sister lie baffling timestreams, inscrutable enemies, and vast stretches of cold, empty space. Humans have departed Mars to colonize another planet. As Last Day on Mars (2017) ended, readers learned--but Liam didn't--that Phoebe, Liam's best friend and only fellow traveler in their small spacecraft (not counting their parents, injured and in stasis, and an intelligent, panda-faced bot), is a disguised alien. A horrifying prelude shows that Xela--Phoebe's real name--came to Mars after a "hurtling wave of atomic fire" seared her whole planet, Telos, in six minutes. Of 6 billion Telphons, only 238 survived--and they want revenge on humans, who caused the cataclysm. When will Liam learn Xela's identity? Where does her loyalty lie? She hides her lavender, black-bristled skin in order to resemble a white, human girl; Liam's multiracial heritage, mentioned in Mars, is unmentioned here. Arcs of emotional tension braid through outer-space flying and fighting scenes, various aliens, jolts of puzzle-mystery time travel, and science/philosophy ("Now and then are constraints of three-dimensional beings"). Liam's loneliness in "the deep black and silence of space" is offset by adventure: "It's been fun, you know, when it hasn't been terrifying." Reveals are plentiful, including a closing one to beckon readers forward.Thrills, violence, time/space questions, and some contemplation about colonization make for action on the thoughtful side. (Science fiction. 10-13)

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