Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gripping tale of space survival has unexpected humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 15 parent reviews
Based on 48 kid reviews
Kids say the book offers an engaging and humorous survival story centered around an astronaut stranded on Mars, filled with scientific detail that readers both young and old can appreciate. However, it is often criticized for its excessive use of vulgar language and the portrayal of its protagonist, which some find unappealing.
- engaging story
- great humor
- excessive swearing
- scientific detail
- mixed character portrayal
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
After a wind-whipped antenna punctures his space suit, botanist Mark Watney is left for dead on the surface of Mars. He survives that initial calamity but finds himself alone on the planet with no idea how to communicate with anyone back on Earth. His food, water, and oxygen will only last so long, so he needs to devise a plan that will let him live until rescue arrives. There's little room for error, though, and Watney comes dangerously close to disaster on numerous occasions.
Is It Any Good?
A first novel originally serialized on author Andy Weir's personal website, this 21st-century Robinson-Crusoe-on-Mars tale starts strong and maintains a high level of suspense. Mark Watney is an instantly likable protagonist: brave, resourceful, and smart and possessing an engaging sense of humor.
The tech talk may occasionally get a little thick, and some of the supporting characters are less than well-rounded, but Weir does a great job of escalating predicaments for his main character to surmount.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why people enjoy tales of survival against long odds. What others have you read or seen as movies?
What are some ways of staying calm in the middle of a crisis? How can you control your emotions to think rationally?
Do you think exploring other planets is a worthwhile endeavor? What kinds of information can come from such missions?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : STEM , Adventures
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Broadway Books
- Publication date : October 27, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 387
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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