In the future, there will be kids living on Mars. And eleven year-old Bell is as close to being a native Martian as you can get. As a baby, he was brought to the red planet to live in the US Colony along with other kids and a crew of quirky, but loveable scientists. Bell spends his days exploring the underground station he calls home, learns to grow algae, and plays on the planet’s surface. When a mysterious illness spreads to all of the grownups, Bell and his adventurous friends must leave the safety of the colony behind to save their home, breaking the most important rule of Mars: No contact with foreign countries, ever.
“Sometimes when the grown-ups talked about life on Earth, it felt like they were remembering dreams. Water falling from the sky. Earth animals flying. Places called libraries, where you could simply walk in and take books home. It all seemed so fantastic.
– Jennifer l. Holm
For young readers grades 3-7, or anyone with a love for space adventures, The Lion of Mars is a classic sci-fi story in a thrilling, kid-friendly way where courage and community come together to save the day. Readers will learn what life would be like on Mars, from the daily chores, what it’s like to ride in a rover, and how to contact Earth from 191 million miles away! But life isn’t always easy or as fulfilling when you can’t run around as you please, to meet new people and learn about other cultures. Even though it takes place on Mars, the novel covers themes surrounding xenophobia, and isolationism in a way that kids can understand but isn’t too heavy handed for more astute readers.
If you’re interested in requesting The Lion of Mars for your book club, you can find the Request Form here. There are 10 copies. (A librarian must request items)
Holm, Jennifer L. The Lion of Mars. Yearling, 2021
