Book Recommendation : MG Series : Chronicle of The Dark Star

The Last Day on Mars, first in the series, Chronicle of The Dark Star, by Kevin Emerson is a smart, cleverly written sci fi, perfect for middle grade readers who love mystery, adventure, science, and space. I love that this is a series, so you won’t need to worry about what to read next!

The publisher description:

Liam Saunders-Chang is one of the last humans left on Mars. The son of two scientists who have been racing against time to create technology vital to humanity’s survival, Liam, along with his friend Phoebe, will be on the very last starliner to depart before Mars, like Earth before it, is destroyed.

Or so he thinks. Because before this day is over, Liam and Phoebe will make a series of profound discoveries about the nature of time and space, and find out that the human race is just one of many in our universe locked in a desperate struggle for survival. 

For me, the promise of aliens in the prologue drew me right in. And I admit that I’m a sucker for time travel, which comes into play.

Kevin Emerson kept the science and the world-building concise so that a younger reader can follow, which actually keeps the pace brisk for any reader. It’s not bogged down with facts or tries too hard to explain. It starts a little slow because an off-world setting does need, well, set up, and the threat of human annihilation is a familiar troupe, but this is science fiction, after all. The plot soon takes off with intriguing complications. The characters are ready to rise to any challenge, but are also vulnerable and likable.

Book Two in The Chronicle of the Dark Star series is equally engaging. Many of the mysteries from Book One are explained, and new twists revealed, which pile on complications.

In this installment, we learn more about Vicki.

Book Three, The Shores Beyond Time is out now. (February, 2019)

Without giving too much away, the publisher blurb says :
The epic conclusion to the Chronicle of the Dark Star is a bold and terrifying journey beyond our universe, and time itself.

I’m looking forward to reading.