There are very few really good science fiction middle grade books that don't cross over into the fantasy realm, so this one really stood out. While some of the technology probably veers a bit into "fantasy," it was a really good examination of what life on a Mars colony might be like for teens who never knew, or can't remember, Earth at all.
Bell has spent his whole life on Mars, having grown up in a colony that cut itself off from the other countries' Mars colonies a long time ago -- so long, no one in their colony, other than their leader, really knows why, and he's not talking. But as the kids reach teenager status they battle all the same things teens on Earth do.
Bell's best friend suddenly changes rooms and there's competition among the teens to be the colony's leader's assistant.
Then a shipment of supplies brings a few mice to the colony, and a virus strikes the adults. After days of caring for their aging caretakers, the teens decide to strike out on their own -- through the underground tunnel that connects the colonies to the French colony to ask for help.
And once there, they learn the truth of why their leader cut them off from the other colonies, so long ago, and how the other colonies have just been waiting to hear from them, all this time.
This is an excellent read for gift-giving to all your middle grade sci-fi dreamers!
