Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Exciting middle grade novel pairs sci-fi with dragons.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
As THE LAST DRAGON ON MARS begins, Lunar Jones is the oldest kid still living in the Martian relocation clinic and it's up to him to scavenge for enough old technology to keep the younger kids fed. In a world where every planet, moon and star has birthed a dragon, Mars' dragon is dead, killed by humans hoping to create another Earth on the barren planet. But their plan backfired, leaving Mars cursed, nearly inhospitable to the humans trying to make the red planet their home. When Lunar heads into a storm in hopes of bringing home his biggest scavenge yet, he instead finds himself embroiled in the biggest secret on the planet, and it will take all of his courage, trust and perseverance to survive.
Is It Any Good?
Combining the colonization of Mars with dragons is a creative way to mesh together fantasy and science fiction. The Last Dragon of Mars, the first in the series, pulls together both the cool technology-driven tropes of interstellar travel with the awesomeness of dragons. While the book is told through the point of view of Lunar Jones, the other characters are likable and diverse, with just enough detail to make them memorable. The story weaves a good amount of character arc in with the action-packed plot. The protagonist, Lunar, doesn't have many flaws, making him a less-than-realistic role model, though still quite likable. While the primary conflict wraps up at the end of the book, there is enough of a teaser for the next conflict to make readers excited for the next installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Last Dragon on Mars pairs dragons with spaceships. How does this fit with your vision of extraterrestrial life?
Science fiction often uses futuristic settings as a parable for current times. What morals or lessons do you think this story points at?
The protagonist Lunar has very little fear. How does his courage help him navigate the challenges he faces?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Fantasy ( Dragons , Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Aladdin
- Publication date : October 1, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 18
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : March 6, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate