Life on Mars
By Jennifer Brown
By Jennifer Brown
Format: Paperback
Price: Free - checked out from the school library
How I heard about it: it's a William Allen White Award book (I'm taking a break from my list and reading some of the William Allen White Award nominees for Battle of the Books at school)
Price: Free - checked out from the school library
How I heard about it: it's a William Allen White Award book (I'm taking a break from my list and reading some of the William Allen White Award nominees for Battle of the Books at school)
Basic Premise: Arcturus Betelgeuse Chambers (Arty) comes from a family of stargazers (everyone, including is aunt Sarin, is named after a celestial body of some sort). All Arty has ever wanted to do is watch the stars, but when his dad announces they are moving to Las Vegas, the brightest city in the world, Arty believes his stargazing days are gone for good.
My Take: 7 out of 10 (scale here)
This book was fine. It's for younger kids (upper elementary), but I think reluctant readers will like it because Jennifer Brown and her characters are funny. There's all sorts of humor in the book, including a sister (Vega) whose boyfriend called "The Bacteria" and lots of factual information about astronomy and astrology that doesn't feel like a science lesson. The over-arching story involves an ailing neighbor who, at first, Arty believes is a serial killer, but upon actually meeting the man, he discovers they share a love of the sky. It's a cute story I plan to have on my shelf for next year!
This book was fine. It's for younger kids (upper elementary), but I think reluctant readers will like it because Jennifer Brown and her characters are funny. There's all sorts of humor in the book, including a sister (Vega) whose boyfriend called "The Bacteria" and lots of factual information about astronomy and astrology that doesn't feel like a science lesson. The over-arching story involves an ailing neighbor who, at first, Arty believes is a serial killer, but upon actually meeting the man, he discovers they share a love of the sky. It's a cute story I plan to have on my shelf for next year!
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