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Life on Mars
Life on Mars
Life on Mars
Ebook240 pages2 hours

Life on Mars

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About this ebook

Twelve-year-old Arcturus Betelgeuse Chambers comes from a family of stargazers and his quest to find life on other planets is unstoppable.

But when Arty's family announces they're moving to Las Vegas, the City of Lights threatens to put an end to his stargazing dreams forever-especially when he has to stay with his scary next door neighbor while his parents look for a house. As it turns out, “Mr. Death” isn't terrifying at all-he's actually Cash Maddox, a bonafide astronaut! But when Cash falls ill, will Arty find the courage to complete his mission by himself? And might he actually prove, once and for all, that there is life on Mars?

For fans of Frank Cottrell Boyce's Cosmic and Jack Gantos's Dead End in Norvelt comes a heartwarming story of true friendship-earthly or otherwise.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateAug 5, 2014
ISBN9781619632530
Life on Mars
Author

Jennifer Brown

Jennifer Brown is the author of the young adult novels Shade Me, Bitter End, Perfect Escape, Thousand Words, and Torn Away. Her debut young adult novel, Hate List, was chosen as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a VOYA Perfect Ten, and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. She lives in the Kansas City, Missouri, area with her husband and children. You can visit Jennifer online at www.jenniferbrownya.com.

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Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was looking for a story to read my youngest when I stumbled upon Life on Mars. I'm not much for juvenile lit; I am selective. I have the same overall expectations for juvenile stories as I do for adult literature. Too often, I'm disappointed, as most children's stories are plot heavy, and I tire from stories that depend on plot. Life on Mars sounded promising, and to its credit, it served up a tale that focused as much on character development as it did moving the story forward. But there were some surprises, good and bad.The good is that this story does not shy away from being real. In the beginning, it's easy to imagine how things will work out for young Arcturus (Arty), a child who has clearly never experienced much adversity. Up against a move that will forever “ruin his life,” Arty is in a position and a genre where you know that even if events don't go as he hopes, they'll work out for the best. And it feels like this is going to be the story for quite some time, but then Jennifer Brown throws the story into an unexpected direction. She piles the burden on. These are the kind of variations that can help a children's story rise above the rest.Also wonderful are the characters themselves. Yes, they're a bit dimensionally thin, but they're well crafted. Aside from Cash, not much is really revealed about any of the characters. Vega obsesses over her boyfriend, who eats and speaks in monosyllables. Cassi has let her new love of cheerleading overshadow her appreciation for astronomy. Priya is the cute Indian girl next door. And Tripp trips. But they’re wonderful characters for a middle-grade novel with dialogue that matches each.What didn't work so well throughout Life on Mars, something else I hadn’t expected, was the saccharine laden details of the story. In an attempt to make every pun possible about space, the novel dips too often into little witticisms that are lost on small children, and not all that funny to those who understand. The fact that this family names all their offspring after stars is cloying. Are we really to believe that every sibling and every cousin for at least three generations is on board with this space obsession? Highly unlikely. Also grating was all the childish talk of zombies and all that. If they’re kidding around, sure, it works. But I got the impression that Arty was genuinely scared, especially when he was without his friends, so for all his thoughts about brain-eaters, I was annoyed. Children’s books do not have to be so juvenile.Okay, I admit it. I’m an old fart. So what? I still liked the novel. I just wish it hadn't been quite so... childish, at times. For being childish, however, this is a children's book with some maturity.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Jennifer Brown's first book for middle-graders! Such a wonderful book, I read it in one day. First, don't let the title or cover fool you this isn't science fiction; no, Ms. Brown brings us what she does best, realistic fiction. This is about a boy who loves space, astronomy and to be specific, Mars. It's a story of friendship, all different kinds. A story of moving, of life's dreams, of family sacrifices for the sake of family. A story of death and birth. There are so many layers to this story that it is very deep when looking back upon it, but Brown has kept the story light and funny with just slight touches of pathos. A lot of issues are touched upon briefly in the story, but it isn't a book about issues; it is a story of friendship and one summer of big change in the life of a boy who is growing up and turning the corner that leaves childhood behind. A sequel has come out recently and I'm looking forward to reading it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Kids will enjoy the space facts and humor in this tale narrated by a boy hoping to find life on Mars. What he discovers right next door is life altering.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Thanks to Netgalley.com and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for access to this title.

    Jennifer Brown has done it again! Her writing is so amazing, and she continues to show how great she is as she expands into the middle grade market.

    I loved the MC and how real he was in his thinking and behavior. I especially enjoyed the scene when he first entered Mr. Death's house and how he hid from him. Although it was not unexpected, I thought the building relationship with Mr. Death and the conclusion to their relationship was wonderfully done.

    As a bonus, I learned a lot from this book about space and stars. It was very educational.

    Recommended for tween boys who love space, returning fans of Jennifer Brown, and anyone who wants to read a great story about a boy learning to make his way through life.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Arcturus Betelgeuse Chambers, Arty for short, is the son of an astronomer, and hopes to become the first human to discover life on Mars. Most every night, he’s out on the roof of his house in Missouri working on CICM, the Clandestine Interplanetary Communication Module. He made out of mirrors, a magnifying glass, and a flashlight. With it he flashes signals at the red planet, then watches through his Mickey Mouse binoculars to see if the signal is acknowledged. Sometimes his friends Tripp and Priya join him on the roof, while his dog Comet paces around the backyard below. Then his father gets a new job in Las Vegas, one of the most light-polluted places on earth, and over a thousand miles away from his friends! The only distraction from his anxiety over the move, is the very strange man who’s moved in next door. Every night wearing a dark hoodie and dark pants he slinks off into the woods behind his house carrying a mysterious box and a bag. Tripp thinks he might be a face-eating zombie, Arty thinks he might be a serial killer. Priya thinks there may be a more reasonable explanation, like dumping trash. But all three of them start to refer to him as Mr. Death.A great middle school story by turns mysterious, funny, and filled with the pain of parting.

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Life on Mars - Jennifer Brown

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