Ghost of Mars by Stuart White

 

Eva Knight is the first of her kind – a Martianborn human. Based on the Mars colony she calls home, Eva can’t seem to stop getting herself and her friends into trouble. Her defiance against the protocols that keep her safe and her ability to infuriate everyone who comes near, is a talent she seems to excel at. It’s not that she means for things to break, alarms to go off, visors to crack and her ideas never seem to go to plan, it’s just that all she really wants to be is an astronaut!

And as far she is concerned the only small things holding her back are her type 1 diabetes and her inability to follow orders. The discovery of a sword on one of her unauthorised trips outside just brings even more trouble her way and it’s locked in the colony vaults, away from her eager touch.

When Eva’s dad goes on an exploratory mission to investigate a potential life-form, she is left in the hands of the cold and calculating co-commander Darshi who has no time for her nonsense and proceeds to make her life a misery. Cleaning down the sewers and washing the mission rovers is not her idea of fun! News soon breaks that her dad and his crew are in trouble down the mine. When Darshi fails to send a rescue team, Eva, Jay, Quasar and Herc have no option but to go and find them.

Troubled that she’s the only one who can see the ghosts around her amid learning secrets of her past that only her dad can explain, Eva needs to get the sword, summon all her energy and a great big space rock of luck if her and her friends are to succeed in their dangerous rescue mission.

What could possibly go wrong, you ask? You’ll need to jump on board and navigate your way through Eva’s world to find out.

Stuart White’s ‘Ghosts of Mars’ is a fantastic sci-fi novel for middle grade readers that will have everyone on the edge of their seat as Eva and her friends attempt the impossible. Amplifying the voices of those with diabetes and disabilities, Stuart also centres the story around friendship, taking responsibility for your actions and family loyalty. All of these are in abundance in this superb page-turner. Jennifer Jamieson’s incredible artwork brings Eva to life on Mars too.

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