“The Lion of Mars” - is a lovely and engaging read. It’s a futuristic outer space story set on Mars. Bell, an eleven-year-old attends school with a small group, only goes out covered up, and lives very monotonous days until it all changes. Middle school kids will quickly relate to the storytelling after experiencing 2020.

Eleven-year-old Bell narrates this heartwarming story of life on Mars in an American colony. A small community of adults and orphaned children and teens, they are isolated from the other colonies for reasons the kids are not privy to and don't understand. They begin asking questions, speaking their mind, and advocating for change. Several adventures and misadventures later, Bell and his adopted family...well, let's not spoil the ending.
While this book is a science fiction novel and set in the future, Jennifer L Holmes connects the story to the reader with pop culture references, familiar daily life activities (like chores and school and celebrations), and a family unit made up of a cast of characters that we can all relate to in one way or another. Arguments, misunderstandings, growing pains, loss, messages from home, and friendships new and old are just some of the themes Holmes incorporates to evoke human emotions that we all feel no matter if we are here on earth or living on Mars sometime in the future. A timely and appropriate plotline is serendipitous and will leave you surprised and delighted at the courage and resourcefulness of Bell and his siblings.
The Lion of Mars is a great introduction to science fiction for the middle-grade reader, and adults will enjoy it just as much as I did.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy to review. All opinions are my own.

Bell is living in a colony on Mars along with a group of other people. One morning Bell is woken by a flash of light and a huge crash. Bell believes it is an alien space craft and wants to go investigate but the adults dismiss his concerns. Some of the other kids decide they DO want to investigate, and so breaking all the rules, they take out a Rover to go investigate. They don't find an alien spaceship, but they do find another group of humans. French humans, who also have a colony on Mars, who the Americans have not had contact with for many years because of a terrible accident. This is a wonderful mystery story with lovely human connections set in outer space. Don't miss it!

I have always been fascinated by Mars. This book was an exciting adventure on the red planet. Bell is a fun character, you’ll enjoy your time with him! May we all find our pride.

This was such a sweet and wonderful story. There were a lot of good things that I think kids can relate to, especially the feeling of isolation and loneliness that Bell and his friends feel living in a very small community on Mars.

Bell was a great narrator for this story. He is a sweet kid, who loves the family that he has been a part of since he was small. All of the kids are adopted, which I thought was a nice touch. They were all brought to the colony at different times, so they all became a part of this found family. But Bell still feels, not exactly trapped, but kind of wants more, and doesn’t fully understand the adults in his life. But he shares a certain closeness with them. I also loved that there was a cat in this settlement. Bell and Leo had a great bond as only kids and cats can have. He also has good relationships with the other kids, but they also have their moments, as all siblings do.

The only thing I can maybe say that I didn’t like, was that I didn’t get a lot of warm fuzzies from the adults that took care of the kids. Don’t get me wrong, I think they cared a lot for them and loved them, but that wasn’t really shown in the story, or at least not enough maybe. I really liked the relationship between Bell and Phineas, who was the botanist of the group and was like their grandfather, at least in age. There were a couple of nice scenes with him that I really liked. But the other adults were just sort of there.

The story is nicely done. There is quite a lot that happens in this fairly short book (275 pgs.) There are themes of grief, isolation, sibling rivalry and survival. It was nice to see kids getting into trouble just because they are curious, just like kids on earth. It was amusing to see Bell’s difficulties in understanding what life must have been like on earth as he only knows about it through books, movies and the adult’s recollections. But the teens and tweens still act like they should. I also liked that it was the kids, that finally got the adults to forgive and want to work and be friends with the other colonies once again, against orders.

A very nicely done story that will be a nice introduction to science fiction for middle schoolers. These kids live normal lives, even if it is on mars, with some mild adventure and a sense of belonging and what it means to be a community.

The precariousness of space/new extraterrestrial outposts always gives me the chills and this book is no exception. A fun read. Holm does not disappoint!

As a huge fan of Jennifer L. Holm, I came into The Lion of Mars with huge expectations . . . and I was not disappointed!
This is a beautiful story of family, community, communication and forgiveness. There are so many themes woven throughout this story . . . it would make a wonderful upper elementary or middle grade book club selection.

This is a beautifully written story that is so original! I love the idea of living on Mars and seeing the challenges that were faced. The characters were well developed and three dimensional, though the ending felt a little rushed.

I'm not sure why I expected anything less than great from Holm, but this blew me out of the water. Bell was such a lovely and warm kid but what really got me was the reframing of American individualism as a hindrance rather than help. I hope all the teenagers get their makeup! The one thing that threw me was Larry. It felt like a half step toward the commander being gay, and then he wasn't. However, I loved it and can't wait to get it into kids' hands.

Bell has only know life on Mars. He was brought as part of the Orphan Program, where those that wished to travel to Mars must bring an orphan with them to help colonize the planet. Things have been going well for the American colony, but they're getting lonely. All the kids know that before "the incident" the colonies worked together and were friends. After "the incident" the American colony shut themselves off from everyone else, and only relied on the Earth's command center to provide supplies and information. Still, Bell has friends, and he doesn't mind the chores, and they get new stuff every once in a while. Slowly though, things start changing, and Bell's not sure their colony will survive alone. A great book about adventures, compromise, creating friends, and being brave. Recommended to all kids eager to explore space.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Lion of Mars even as an adult reader. The main character, Bell, is eleven or five depending on which planet you are talking about so young readers will enjoy the novel as well. I believe this would make a great read aloud for classrooms, libraries, and even parents reading to younger children.
Although the novel is set in the future and on Mars, the reader can see how the events happening on the book's Earth and even Mars may not be too far in our future. The book is a good way to approach difficult topics as it is futuristic not current and readers can separate their current situations from those of the characters. Holm deals with the topics of love, loss, friendship, bravery, and survival so well as the readers experience these ideas with both the children and adults in the book. Even on Mars children and teens get into trouble because of their curiosity; adults make tough decisions that can be quite painful. In the end, the readers see how friendship, community, and family are essential to survival.

As an adult reader I see humor and irony in the way the Mars children think certain Earth things are odd or unusual while Earth people would think the same of life on Mars. The teens love fashion but enjoy the fashion of decades past; their dancing incorporates so many different eras which would be expected when what they know of Earth came from movies or digi-reels, magazines, and books. I smiled each time an animal name was preceded with the descriptor Earth, but Bell's cat is never given the descriptor. The idea of eating algae for the main food source makes me cringe, but the children see nothing crazy about eating algae loaf, algae buns, or algae pasta. I can only imagine what it would be like to live underground all the time or only know less than 10 people for your whole childhood as Bell experienced. How exciting it must have been for Bell to make new friends and realize someone who you thought was your enemy maybe wasn't after all.

The story revolves around a small group of people from the United States living in a colony on Mars. The story is told from the perspective of the youngest child, eleven-year-old Bell. He was brought to the colony as an infant. Although other countries from Earth have also established colonies, their inhabitants are considered dangerous and hostile.
I really love The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L Holm. I found myself caring about the characters. The adults are flawed, stubborn, and caring. The children are inquisitive, mischievous, and daring. I had no trouble imagining their environment. The story includes danger, humor, love, friendship and fun.

I immensely enjoyed this book. The story was so well-written, with just the right amount of suspense, mystery, humor, poignancy. The whole concept was intriguing and well-developed. I will definitely be recommending this book!

Wow! I LOVED this book. I am already a fan of Jennifer L. Holm, but I was blown away by the novel. I read it in one sitting actually. It is an unusual book in that it would be enjoyable by all ages from middle grade all the way to adult. I will definitely purchase for my elementary library and recommend to my students. At this level, there is a dearth of good science fiction, so this one will stand out.

Jennifer L. Holm has such a presence in the book world. She is always crafting such amazing stories that pull you and don't let you go.
In this one we have Bell who lives on a colony on Mars. We see through her eyes what it is like to live there and have never lived on Earth.
Such a cool perspective and great way to look at life.
This would be a great read-a-loud in schools and will make for great discussion.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

How would it feel to be a child living on Mars with no knowledge of what it is like to live on Earth? This is another great book by Jennifer Holm. My students will enjoy this fun novel about what it would be like to live on Mars. While no one knows for sure how children would live, this story pulled me in and I could believe all of the events that were happening.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
An uncanny timeliness for this book set on Mars. The American settlement consists of twelve people - six grown ups and six children/teens. Bell is the youngest child there. He arrived as a toddler and has known no other life. The settlement is isolated and has broken all communication with the other countries' settlements. A tragedy happened in the past and a life was lost. Unfortunately, the situation on Earth is also fraught with wars and threats of war so the command from there is to remain totally isolated. Then a tragedy strikes and the grown ups are all become critically ill with a virus. (NOTE: This was written before the pandemic struck in 2020.). To save their friends and themselves, Trey and Bell set out for the closest settlement. Eventually, Bell makes it to the French location and the other settlements bring the children there and heal the ill Americans.
Holm captures the human connections needed to survive in isolation. Readers are part of Bell's experiences. They grieve when he grieves and share his fears and joys. The lion pride analogy works well as readers see how they live. No matter the setting, the emphasis on connections and community resonates with middle grade readers.

What a timely book--with the rover Perseverance scheduled to actually land on Mars in Feb.!
My older elementary school readers will, undoubtedly, connect with 11 year old Bell.
They will delight in the fact that, although he has lived on the planet, Mars, all his life, he has experiences just like them on earth. Yet, the uniqueness, fun, and frightening moments of residing in a self-contained community in a different world will be eye-opening. Not only does the book entertain its readers but also educates them about space exploration and subsistence.
Its overriding message of cooperation and working together is so important in today's world. How that is accomplished in the book is so exciting. I especially liked the end page with various websites to follow-up on the story. Space exploration never ends as Holm proves!

11-year-old Bell showed us what it was like living in an American Mars colony and encounter obstacles along the way with other people living in the settlement. Bell finds out that other settlements from other countries are not very friendly by the Commander of the American settlement. He finds out that a member of the settlement passed away because of the other foreign countries. But he later starts to find out more about his settlement, which makes him even more curious to find out more. This science fiction novel is a great read on friendships, survival, teamwork, determination, and forgiveness for upper elementary and middle school.

Eleven year old Bell is one of the younger kids on the Mars station, and like all the others, he has no memory of earth. Life is full of on-line school, chores like emptying the dust filters, and apprenticeships with the adults to learn how to make the algae farm work or how to drive the rovers. Several other countries have Mars bases and Bell knows that the never-used underground train would connect to them, but the adults are tight-lipped about what caused the United States group to break off all contact.

When a mysterious illness strikes down all the adults on the station but spares the kids at the same time that supplies are dwindling between resupply missions, Bell is sent off to beg for help from the international neighbors he has never met. Adults from all the other stations rally to foster the kids and nurse the adults back to health, and eventually, reconciliation. Dealing with isolation and illness will especially resonate with 2020 readers.