The Lion of Mars

Jennifer L. Holm's The Lion of Mars is a funny, thoughtful space story for 8 year olds about a boy who has never seen Earth.

What happens

Bell is eleven. He's lived in the American settlement on Mars since he was a baby, in rounded rooms built inside a giant lava tube. He loves cats, cake and asking questions. His constant companion is Leo, a fat old cat who acts like a lion.

Life on Mars is full of chores and rules. Don't go outside without a buddy. Don't go past the flag. And never, ever have contact with the other countries' settlements.

Bell has bigger worries, though. Albie snores. And Trey, who's been like a brother to him forever, suddenly doesn't want to share a room or play their three-word story game anymore. Why won't anyone tell him what's changed?

Then something glowing crashes out of the sky near the French settlement. Bell is sure it's an alien ship. The grown-ups say it's a meteorite, and the commander, Sai, won't let anyone go and check. Not everyone agrees with him.

What makes this so enjoyable is Bell's voice. He's funny without meaning to be. He's never seen a tree, a bird or a lawn, so Earth things sound very odd to him. When old Phinneus explains weeds, Bell decides Earth has killer plants! He even has his own word for great, socksy, left over from when he was little and got a sweet for every sock he put on.

It's also a gentle, clever story about growing up in a tiny community. All the grown-ups have quirks, from grumpy Salty Bill the cook to Meems the doctor. Your reader will soon notice that the adults are keeping something back.

Later on, a virus spreads, the grown-ups fall ill and the children have to cope on their own. That's worth knowing if illness is a worry in your house. We also hear early on that a crew member died near the French settlement some time ago, and that the old cats are buried in the settlement cemetery.

If your reader loves space, animals or a big question to chew over (who says the other side are the enemy?), this is a super choice.

What to read next

If Bell's thoughtful, funny voice wins them over, try The Fourteenth Goldfish, also by Jennifer L. Holm. Ellie finds out her mum has quietly been replacing her goldfish for years. Then Mum has to go and collect Grandpa from the police.