Written by Sheela Chari
This book is the second in what looks like a 3-book series, with the third book scheduled for release in October 2022. The novels are based on the popular mystery series podcast named ‘Mars Patel.’ This sequel begins with high action as 11 year-old protagonist Mars Patel is rocketing through space en route to planet Mars. He is trying to find two of his middle-school buddies who went missing in the first book. The more he and his friends investigated, they realized that children had gone missing from all around the world, not just the Puget Sound area. Clues lead them to suspect that the brilliant billionaire Oliver Pruitt was behind the disappearances and now, Mars is on a quest to get to the new galactic colony that has been funded and established by Pruitt (on Mars) and hopefully find his friends.
Mars’ friend group is culturally diverse as well as having unique abilities. Mars is Indian, JP uses the pronouns they/them, Julia is wheelchair bound, Caddie has the ability to sense other’s thoughts, and so on. The action-packed plot will keep you on your toes as each chapter alternates between the perspectives of multiple characters. I found that the colony Sheela Chari created on Mars was creative and intriguing, a new twist on an adventure story.
Reviewed by Kristine Kramer, Librarian, Lincoln Elementary
Review shared in August 2022
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 4-6
The Interplanetary Expedition of Mars Patel
Written by Sheela Chari
Candlewick Press
304 pages
Release Date: Oct 12, 2021
ISBN: 9781536209570 (hardcover) / 9781536228205 (paperback)
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
