In the year 2213, Earth no longer exists. Mysteriously, the sun began expanding in size, approaching supernova phase far far earlier than it should. Humanity was prepared, having developed the plans and ability to colonize Mars briefly, before regrouping on a distant star with Earth-like qualities.
By now, most humans have begun the 150 year journey to this new star, and a select few remain behind on Mars to finish terraforming and collect data to ensure the trip to our new home goes smoothly. Liam is the son of two of these scientists. He and his friends are among the few who have lived their life entirely on Mars and can truly call it home. He is nervous to leave, while his best friend Phoebe is excited to explore the new world. They are scheduled to leave on the last starliner to allow their parents as much time as possible to secure a safe arrival on the other side. Solar storms have increased in frequency and strength, and their scheduled departure is repeatedly bumped closer due to unexpected weather changes. Hours before departure, something goes terribly wrong, and explosions rock the laboratory where Liam and Phoebe’s parents are working. Liam bucks advice from his elders and sets out to retrieve them with his friend. Along the way, they’ll find an undiscovered space station on one of Mars high peaks, meet a man traveling not only through space but through time, and figure out that someone has been trying to prevent their journey to their new home: someone intent on destroying humanity entirely.
We have so much dystopian sci-fi for teens these days that I am always excited to find one that is good old fashioned space-adventure. It opens with a bang — then we get a sluggish exposition where we learn all about life on Mars in 2213. But once the explosion happens, the action picks up full throttle, seasoned nicely with layers of the mystery behind the destruction of the space station and the sun’s super-advanced supernova. I would love to read the next in the series and hope I don’t forget about it by the time it comes out, ha! #librarianproblems