ARC Review: Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson

Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson

It is Earth year 2213—but, of course, there is no Earth anymore. Not since it was burned to a cinder by the sun, which has mysteriously begun the process of going supernova. The human race has fled to Mars, but this was only a temporary solution while we prepare for a second trip: a one-hundred-fifty-year journey to a distant star, our best guess at where we might find a new home.

Liam Saunders-Chang is one of the last humans left on Mars. The son of two scientists who have been racing against time to create technology vital to humanity’s survival, Liam, along with his friend Phoebe, will be on the very last starliner to depart before Mars, like Earth before it, is destroyed.

Or so he thinks. Because before this day is over, Liam and Phoebe will make a series of profound discoveries about the nature of time and space, and find out that the human race is just one of many in our universe locked in a desperate struggle for survival.

Pages: 324

Format: ARC Paperback

Published By: Walden Pond Press

Genre: Middle Grade - Sci-fi
Series: Chronicle of the Dark Star

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book free to read and review, thanks to Walden Pond Press and Jean BookNerd.

Rating:
✮✮✮✮

Review:
Last Day on Mars was a great beginning to what could turn out to be a wonderful MG series. There were scenes with a lot of action, and then there were also some slow scenes. Overall, it was a very quick read, which could be read in one sitting. The book was really interesting, and was very entertaining. If you have never read a sci-fi book, I feel like this one could easily be a gateway book into this genre.

I really liked Liam as a character. He was a pretty well-developed character, and at times I thought he was mature for a 13 year old, but he wasn't lacking the behavior of a 13 year old at other points. The relationships in the story were pretty decent. Liam and Mina's relationship was not focused on a lot during the book, but I thought it was a pretty important to the story, moreso towards the end. I also really enjoyed the friendship between Liam and Phoebe, it was a nice addition to the story. One of the other characters I really loved in the story was JEFF, the panda robot. He was a definite and very much needed comical relief in my opinion.

By the end of the book, I had a lot of unanswered questions, which I hope will be answered by the end of the series. There was a lot going on that you don't know as the story is progressing, and a good portion of what you don't know during the progression isn't answered by the end. I feel like the book left on a somewhat cliffhanger, like I didn't feel like it was a huge cliffhanger, but it did leave you wondering, what?, which I thought was really good, because it leaves you wanting to get your hand on the next book in the series.