Last Day on Mars

November 28, 2016
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.

Starred review from December 1, 2016
All remaining humans are leaving Mars for a distant planet, but departure day goes sideways.The "burning husk" of Earth fell into the sun five years ago, and Mars is about to become uninhabitable. The Scorpius leaves today with the last 100 million passengers. Thirteen-year-old Liam's sad to go: he was born on Mars and identifies as a Martian, unconcerned that his Earth heritage is "Thai, Irish, Nigerian, Texan, and like ten more." His parents and his friend Phoebe's parents are rushing the final research for terraforming their destination planet when a radioactive explosion, complete with mushroom cloud, blows the lab to bits. The Scorpius departs with Liam's sister and the 100 million aboard, leaving Liam, Phoebe, and a highly skilled robot functionally alone (their parents are alive but unconscious)--can they catch the Scorpius? Emerson's story is fast, exciting, and terrifying, involving spacecraft of many sizes, travel through space, more explosions, an alien gadget that shows Liam the near future (and that extraterrestrials exist! Humans hadn't known), and some shadowy characters. Who's the blue ET chronologist murdered in Scene 1? Who's trying to exterminate humankind, and why? How many unrelated ET groups are out there? A stunning reveal at the end will leave readers gasping for the next installment. Enigmatic enemies, sabotage, space travel, and short, bone-wracking bits of time travel make for a banging adventure. (Science fiction. 9-12)

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January 1, 2017

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 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from January 1, 2017
Grades 5-8 *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 colonythe only home they've ever knownthey'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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)