The interplanetary expedition of Mars Patel

Gr 3--7--Mars Patel is going to his namesake planet, where he'll finally find his missing friend Aurora and meet his hero-turned-adversary, Oliver Pruitt. Picking up where the first book left off, this follow-up to The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel brings Mars to Mars, where he encounters a new crew of exceptional kids who have been selected by Oliver to help him build a colony in space, away from adults and the problems that have brought Earth to the brink of collapse. There's South London's Julia, who speaks multiple languages (including three coding languages) and uses a wheelchair; Orion Acevedo, an adept space pilot and former foster kid; and Daisy Zheng, the 10-year-old Chief of Communication at the Mars Colony. But colony life is not as idyllic as Oliver and Daisy would have Mars Patel believe, and soon he is caught up in yet another life-and-death adventure, this time on the Red Planet. There is more emphasis on plot in this sequel, with many of the new characters feeling thin in comparison to the original friend group of the first novel. Still, the do-or-die space action is thrilling, and the themes of teamwork and perseverance remain strong. Mars is Indian American, while the rest of the cast varies in terms of ethnicity. VERDICT A must-read for fans of the first book. Hand this series to readers who crave sci-fi adventure and mystery.--Dana West, Nathan Hale H.S., Seattle

Space-obsessed preteen Mars Patel heads to Mars in this companion novel to Season 2 of the eponymous hit children's podcast. Author Chari picks up where she left off in The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel (2020), as Mars and a diverse group of fellow middle schoolers train for the book's titular expedition under the guidance of billionaire Oliver Pruitt, who is financing the trip. Mars gets particularly close to innovative Julia, who is hiding a secret. But as Mars prepares for his journey, he also has something he feels he can't tell anyone about: On top of the fact that his friend Aurora is still missing, he keeps getting mysterious anonymous messages warning that he is in danger. Meanwhile, Mars' mother, Saira, faces troubles of her own in the form of a threatening man with dark-rimmed glasses, something she navigates while intensely missing her son. On the occasions the two do get to speak, Saira's dialogue includes some Hindi--easily understandable in context and adding texture. This action-packed book can feel crowded at times, as readers alternate between the perspectives of multiple characters, but they will be drawn in as Mars has to make some tough choices while also learning the shocking truth behind why he was selected for this mission in the first place. Fast-paced and interesting if a bit overstuffed. (Science fiction. 10-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.