Title: Diary of a Martian

Author: Stephen Haunts

Genre: Middle-Grade / Science-Fiction

In Diary of a Martian, we meet Elliot, a Martian. He isn’t an extraterrestrial, but he does live on Mars. It’s the year 2155, and Earth has colonized Mars and humans’ everyday life is, surprisingly, normal. Students are thriving in school, popular sports and extracurriculars are in full swing, and science and technology are at their most advanced. Everyone seems to have adjusted well to the new planet, but not everyone wants peace.

Twelve-year-old Elliot lives in the New London station on Mars with his father. One day, Elliot begins seeing a suspicious man lurking in nearly every corner. When an unidentified person tries to sabotage the New London station, Elliot is sure the mystery man is behind it. But is something darker lurking on Mars?

As a reader, living on Mars feels totally normal. The book blends world-building details naturally into the plot to ease readers into this new world and life for humans. There is no info-dumping nor an overload of exposition, and we’re able to fall into the story easily and transport our imagination to Mars.

One of the most fascinating scenes in the book combines the physical environment with character development, when Elliot takes his first walk on the martian surface. On Mars, taking your first steps on the surface of the planet is a rite of passage that all children go through at the age of twelve. With captivating imagery and a tender father-son moment, readers will connect deeply with Elliot as they share this unforgettable experience with him.

Friendship and family are strong themes in the book. The character relationships are one of the book’s strongest elements, and the main characters are sure to be fan favorites. Each character shows genuine curiosity, interest, and respect for their friends’ cultures and thoughts, and their chemistry make for some heartwarming bonding scenes. At the core of their friendships is loyalty, bravery, and unwavering faith in each other, creating bonds that are even deeper relationships, like newfound family. The character relationships are a great demonstration for young readers of what it means to be a good friend and how even if you don’t have blood-related family, there are plenty of people out there who will love and respect you like family.

In the last third of the book, before the climax, the book does hit a slow patch. Though the plot is still intriguing, and some pieces of the puzzle are coming together, there are more questions than answers, so readers will need to have some patience as they read through this section before they get to the big reveal of what’s really happening on Mars.

To round out the book, we get a sneak peek at Diary of a Martian’s next installment in the series. The quick excerpt gives us a taste of what’s to come, and we get just enough to be on the edge of our seats.

Diary of a Martian is a high-stakes, interstellar, science-fiction story perfect for young readers seeking an other-worldly adventure. Entertaining action, exciting world-building, and strong moral lessons make for a well-rounded book for young readers. Diary of a Martian will teach young readers about standing strong in the face of the unknown, the value of friendship and family, and the fascinating world beyond Earth.

This Editorial Review was written by the Book Review Directory staff. To receive a similarly honest, professional review for one of your own books, click here.