THE LION OF MARS by Jennifer L. Holm

 

Inspired by her fighter pilot father and her love of outer space, author Jennifer L. Holm brings readers a story that is out of this world. 

Bell has spent his whole life on Mars and so have the other kids living in the American unit located underground on the red planet. The adults all have memories of Earth and attempt to share what they can, but Bell isn't sure how he is supposed to understand things like birds flying and weeds the cook tells him are evil plants.

Everyone has assigned chores, school, and very little time for fun. Bell loves cats and is curious about everything. As the youngest of the children, he isn't always included in the plans of the teenagers so he spends a lot of time in the algae farm learning what he can from an elderly farmer named Phinneus.

After a prolonged dust storm and a poorly planned attempt to drive one of the rovers on the surface, Bell and the other kids are grounded. Their punishment is interrupted when an illness strikes down the adults. With the grown-ups all in bed with fevers and more, it is decided that Bell and Trey should use the underground train to travel to one of the foreign units to bring back help. The trip is dangerous and also uncovers some frustrating secrets that have the children doubting the decisions made by some of their adult leaders.

Holm's vivid, futuristic descriptions will transport readers to Mars. Readers will be able to put themselves in the place of the characters as they live a very different life than what we know on Earth.