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Mars Patel #1
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel
Based on the Peabody Award-winning podcast, this tech-filled adventure series pits intrepid Mars Patel and his outcast friends against a brilliant, enigmatic billionaire as they race to figure out why kids are disappearing from their school.
Mars Patel's friend Aurora has disappeared! His teachers are clueless. His mom is stressed out about her jobs. But Mars refuses to give up--after all, his own dad disappeared when Mars was a toddler, before he and Ma moved to Puget Sound from India. Luckily, Mars has a group of loyal friends eager to help--smart Toothpick, strong and stylish JP, and maybe-telepathic Caddie. The clues seem to point toward eccentric tech genius (and Mars's hero) Oliver Pruitt, whose popular podcast now seems to be commenting on their quest! But when the friends investigate Pruitt's mysterious, elite school, nothing is as it seems--and anyone could be deceiving them. Slick science, corporate conspiracies, and an endearingly nerdy protagonist make this a fresh, exciting sci-fi adventure.
Mars Patel's friend Aurora has disappeared! His teachers are clueless. His mom is stressed out about her jobs. But Mars refuses to give up--after all, his own dad disappeared when Mars was a toddler, before he and Ma moved to Puget Sound from India. Luckily, Mars has a group of loyal friends eager to help--smart Toothpick, strong and stylish JP, and maybe-telepathic Caddie. The clues seem to point toward eccentric tech genius (and Mars's hero) Oliver Pruitt, whose popular podcast now seems to be commenting on their quest! But when the friends investigate Pruitt's mysterious, elite school, nothing is as it seems--and anyone could be deceiving them. Slick science, corporate conspiracies, and an endearingly nerdy protagonist make this a fresh, exciting sci-fi adventure.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2020
39 people are currently reading
1897 people want to read
About the author
Sheela Chari
10 books114 followersI'm the author of VANISHED (Disney Hyperion) and FINDING MIGHTY (Abrams) and THE UNEXPLAINABLE DISAPPEARANCE OF MAFS PATEL series (Walker US), based on the award-winning hit podcast. My upcoming tween novel, KARTHIK DELIVERS (Abrams), will be available spring 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
January 4, 2021
This book is a fun adventure story for middle grade kids based on an award winning podcast. I love podcasts...so jumped right on this to try reading the book & I listed to a few of the season 1 episodes of the pod cast. Fun!
Mars Patel and his friends are super smart. They all have their own particular strengths and work together to solve problems that arise. Then two of their friends disappear....and they discover that other kids have also gone missing. A strange billionaire and popular podcaster seems to be giving hints about the situation. Where did the kids go? And why?
The pod cast is fun and entertaining. This novelization was also fun to read! It definitely ends on a cliff hanger so I assume this will be a series. The characters are varied. The plot is fast-paced and interesting. I'm 52 -- definitely way out of the target demographic for this series -- but I still enjoyed it! I will definitely be reading more, and I'm listening to the podcast too. I feel like a rebel -- the podcast tells adults not to listen that the story is for kids. ha ha -- I do what I wanna do! I'm gonna listen anyway! So there!
:)
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Candlewick Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Mars Patel and his friends are super smart. They all have their own particular strengths and work together to solve problems that arise. Then two of their friends disappear....and they discover that other kids have also gone missing. A strange billionaire and popular podcaster seems to be giving hints about the situation. Where did the kids go? And why?
The pod cast is fun and entertaining. This novelization was also fun to read! It definitely ends on a cliff hanger so I assume this will be a series. The characters are varied. The plot is fast-paced and interesting. I'm 52 -- definitely way out of the target demographic for this series -- but I still enjoyed it! I will definitely be reading more, and I'm listening to the podcast too. I feel like a rebel -- the podcast tells adults not to listen that the story is for kids. ha ha -- I do what I wanna do! I'm gonna listen anyway! So there!
:)
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Candlewick Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Want to read
September 15, 2020September 14, 2020: WAIT A SEC- why did I not know about this cool af upcoming book that has a character of the South Asian diaspora?? I NEED THIS
June 12, 2020
A Long, Slow Slog to a Cliffhanger
This is a novelization of a popular podcast series. It appears that the podcast recording scripts were independently published in 2019 in three volumes, but they seem to be out of print and practically unavailable, (except possibly through the marspatel.com website). I guess this book is the replacement wider-release novel, and since it comes to an abrupt cliffhanger end, (and I do mean abrupt), I imagine there are more novels planned.
The premise behind the story is interesting. Two members of a gang of six really smart kids go missing, and the question is why. Were they abducted, or did they choose to go somewhere? How does this fit into the schemes of billionaire inventor/nutcase celebrity podcaster Oliver Pruitt, who is a weird cross of Elon Musk and the pirate radio guy Wolfman Jack from the movie "American Graffiti"?
Well, it takes us hundreds of pages to get to the final twenty or so pages that answer some basic questions. Before that and beyond that, you'll have to wait.
There isn't much in the way of action. The kids aren't particularly well fleshed out. They're smart because we're told they're smart. (The fact that after a minor earthquake one kid knew what a subduction zone was didn't scream young Einstein to me.) They spend a lot of time telling each other that they are each other's buddies. The kids are also pretty emo, with our two main characters, Mars Patel and Caddie, having lots of issues for no particular reason. There is a lot of repetition, lots of peripheral filler, and lots of loose ends. I'm not in love with Elon Musk type characters, so the hero worship of Oliver Pruitt, (for no reason more convincing than the fact that the book requires it), was not a strong point for me.
So, this read a lot younger than I expected, but it didn't strike me as a very effective attention holder for younger readers. That doesn't seem like a good combination, but there might be more patient readers out there than I suspect.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This is a novelization of a popular podcast series. It appears that the podcast recording scripts were independently published in 2019 in three volumes, but they seem to be out of print and practically unavailable, (except possibly through the marspatel.com website). I guess this book is the replacement wider-release novel, and since it comes to an abrupt cliffhanger end, (and I do mean abrupt), I imagine there are more novels planned.
The premise behind the story is interesting. Two members of a gang of six really smart kids go missing, and the question is why. Were they abducted, or did they choose to go somewhere? How does this fit into the schemes of billionaire inventor/nutcase celebrity podcaster Oliver Pruitt, who is a weird cross of Elon Musk and the pirate radio guy Wolfman Jack from the movie "American Graffiti"?
Well, it takes us hundreds of pages to get to the final twenty or so pages that answer some basic questions. Before that and beyond that, you'll have to wait.
There isn't much in the way of action. The kids aren't particularly well fleshed out. They're smart because we're told they're smart. (The fact that after a minor earthquake one kid knew what a subduction zone was didn't scream young Einstein to me.) They spend a lot of time telling each other that they are each other's buddies. The kids are also pretty emo, with our two main characters, Mars Patel and Caddie, having lots of issues for no particular reason. There is a lot of repetition, lots of peripheral filler, and lots of loose ends. I'm not in love with Elon Musk type characters, so the hero worship of Oliver Pruitt, (for no reason more convincing than the fact that the book requires it), was not a strong point for me.
So, this read a lot younger than I expected, but it didn't strike me as a very effective attention holder for younger readers. That doesn't seem like a good combination, but there might be more patient readers out there than I suspect.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
September 17, 2023
Rating - 3.75 stars
.
.
.
What to expect...
✨ Missing people trope
✨ Sci-fi space adventure
✨ Self-sacrificing decisions
✨ Smart + savvy misfits
.
.
.
A couple of years ago, I stumbled upon the audio drama and absolutely loved the first season, though, I never made the time to listen to the other two. Not too long after that, I discovered that it was finally turned into a book, but my library hadn't, gotten at the time. Fast forward to last week, I randomly wanted to listen to the series from start to finish. Is it bad that I listened to all 30 episodes within a week? Then shortly after I started listening again, I saw that my library finally got the books via Libby. It's such a fun adventure!
I love how the author kept the characters to how they were originally created. Like, they were exactly the same, just without the voices. xD Though, one thing that frustrated me was that she made one of the characters a "they." The agenda felt forced as it didn't flow with the story, but it was thankfully only talked about a couple of times. Additionally though, at times, I had trouble figuring out if she was talking about JP or the friend group. Nevertheless, it was nice getting a backstory for Aurora since the audio drama just jumped right into her already missing.
Mars and his friends seriously had the sweetest relationships. The way they sacrificed themselves was lovely and just the way they cared for one another. I was sad that a few iconic and humorous scenes were taken out, but I'll give credit to the author for still keeping the slight eeriness that the audio drama holds along with the thrill.
Overall, this was a great start to the book series and I'm curious to see what the other two are like!
.
.
.
What to expect...
✨ Missing people trope
✨ Sci-fi space adventure
✨ Self-sacrificing decisions
✨ Smart + savvy misfits
.
.
.
A couple of years ago, I stumbled upon the audio drama and absolutely loved the first season, though, I never made the time to listen to the other two. Not too long after that, I discovered that it was finally turned into a book, but my library hadn't, gotten at the time. Fast forward to last week, I randomly wanted to listen to the series from start to finish. Is it bad that I listened to all 30 episodes within a week? Then shortly after I started listening again, I saw that my library finally got the books via Libby. It's such a fun adventure!
I love how the author kept the characters to how they were originally created. Like, they were exactly the same, just without the voices. xD Though, one thing that frustrated me was that she made one of the characters a "they." The agenda felt forced as it didn't flow with the story, but it was thankfully only talked about a couple of times. Additionally though, at times, I had trouble figuring out if she was talking about JP or the friend group. Nevertheless, it was nice getting a backstory for Aurora since the audio drama just jumped right into her already missing.
Mars and his friends seriously had the sweetest relationships. The way they sacrificed themselves was lovely and just the way they cared for one another. I was sad that a few iconic and humorous scenes were taken out, but I'll give credit to the author for still keeping the slight eeriness that the audio drama holds along with the thrill.
Overall, this was a great start to the book series and I'm curious to see what the other two are like!
February 14, 2021
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel is a fun science fiction adventure story featuring 6 friends - one of whom is missing from the very first page. Mars and his group of friends might not be as concerned as they are if it didn't feel like the adults were intentionally not caring. Well, the problem is also that they go to a very odd school with Code Red drills and harsh detentions for non-incidents.
This book is unusual in that it is based off of a scripted podcast. If you go to the podcast's website it says "podcast for middle grade kids, performed by middle grade kids'. I even downloaded and listened to a few minutes of the first episode. Perhaps it is because of this the book has additional formats between chapters that help to engage readers - such as text message between friends, Oliver Pruitt's podcast and comment section, as well as notices from the school administration.
The science fiction mystery is fast-paced and entertaining and ends on a definite cliffhanger - or one you hope is a cliffhanger.
Rating 4 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
This book is unusual in that it is based off of a scripted podcast. If you go to the podcast's website it says "podcast for middle grade kids, performed by middle grade kids'. I even downloaded and listened to a few minutes of the first episode. Perhaps it is because of this the book has additional formats between chapters that help to engage readers - such as text message between friends, Oliver Pruitt's podcast and comment section, as well as notices from the school administration.
The science fiction mystery is fast-paced and entertaining and ends on a definite cliffhanger - or one you hope is a cliffhanger.
Rating 4 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
October 6, 2020
You can find this review of The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel on my blog, Heart’s Content!
A big shout out and thank you to Lonely Pages Book Tours for including me in the tour and to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel is my first MG read since I started blogging (and for a very long time before that) and I can definitely say it won’t be my last. I’ve suddenly got a little part of me interested in and curious about the MG genre and I can’t wait to dive into the many many choices out there. So that’s something I will always remember this book for.
TUDoMP is a super fast paced sci-fi, mystery and adventure that will for sure take you on a ride that you hadn’t prepared for. The story follows Mars and his friends down the path of intrigue, danger as they begin to notice and follow all the strangeness that begins to surround them.
I definitely enjoyed the first half of the book very very much. I sailed through comfortable and excited about the fast pace and loved seeing what each character brought to the table with their unique personalities and was right there with Mars and his friends as they raced in search for the truth.
But, as the story progressed I did feel that both the story and the unique personality of each character started to dull and merge a bit. Perhaps this was in reaction to the focus of the writing shifting completely to all the mysterious things that were happening, I’m not sure, but it did tire me out a bit because it felt like a race with no purpose or anchor that remained constant at the face of all the change. However, the book does keeps you guessing until the last page.
There is also an accidental misrepresentation of a character in the narration that made me lose a bit of connection to the story, but however I’m aware I had an uncorrected reader’s copy so hopefully that will be edited out in the final version.
3.5 stars! Thank you for joining us in the tour for The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel and I hope you dropped by everyone on the tour and enjoyed their posts! Happy reading and stay safe!
A big shout out and thank you to Lonely Pages Book Tours for including me in the tour and to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel is my first MG read since I started blogging (and for a very long time before that) and I can definitely say it won’t be my last. I’ve suddenly got a little part of me interested in and curious about the MG genre and I can’t wait to dive into the many many choices out there. So that’s something I will always remember this book for.
TUDoMP is a super fast paced sci-fi, mystery and adventure that will for sure take you on a ride that you hadn’t prepared for. The story follows Mars and his friends down the path of intrigue, danger as they begin to notice and follow all the strangeness that begins to surround them.
I definitely enjoyed the first half of the book very very much. I sailed through comfortable and excited about the fast pace and loved seeing what each character brought to the table with their unique personalities and was right there with Mars and his friends as they raced in search for the truth.
But, as the story progressed I did feel that both the story and the unique personality of each character started to dull and merge a bit. Perhaps this was in reaction to the focus of the writing shifting completely to all the mysterious things that were happening, I’m not sure, but it did tire me out a bit because it felt like a race with no purpose or anchor that remained constant at the face of all the change. However, the book does keeps you guessing until the last page.
There is also an accidental misrepresentation of a character in the narration that made me lose a bit of connection to the story, but however I’m aware I had an uncorrected reader’s copy so hopefully that will be edited out in the final version.
3.5 stars! Thank you for joining us in the tour for The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel and I hope you dropped by everyone on the tour and enjoyed their posts! Happy reading and stay safe!
June 28, 2020
I really enjoyed this quick read! I’m 31 years old and the book is targeted for someone a third my age since the characters are in grade school. I thought the mystery and concept is pretty cool. I hate cliffhanger endings but this is based on the first season of the podcast which ended with a cliffhanger so...! My boyfriend’s daughter is 11 and freaked out when she found out I received an ARC because her class listened to the podcast in school. My copy is now traveling from Washington to some very excited tweens in Ohio. :)
July 18, 2022
This book caught our attention because it is based on a podcast series by the same name. Caveat: I've not listened to the podcast, but the concept was intriguing, and if it's anything like the book, it would be appropriate for a middle school classroom to listen, as a regular in-class feature. That could be kinda cool, actually.
On to the review. Eleven-year-old Mars and his classmates (Aurora, Toothpick, Caddie, and JP) are eagerly counting down the days to their chance to escape 7th grade at H.G. Wells (wink, wink) Middle School by taking the GIFT test to get into exclusive Pruitt Prep, founded by techie guru genius Oliver Pruitt.
Aurora's super smart; Caddie's headaches predict when bad things are going to happen; Toothpick has a prodigious memory; and JP, they/them, doesn't know their own strength. And Mars...he's a Pruitt fanboy. Listens religiously to Pruitt's podcast, every day. Together they're a handful for their principal to manage, constantly up to no good, but generally harmless, pranks and pratfalls that net them a lot of time in detention together.
Then Aurora goes missing. Doesn't respond to any texts. Her house is empty, her parents supposedly moved away overnight. Mars and gang don't buy it. In fact, they find out kids are disappearing all over the world, the smartest, the brightest, poof! And they hook up with others who have proof: the Missing posters, with pictures and dates. What's going on?
Strangely, there are clues in Pruitt's daily broadcast. They follow them up by exploring across the water on the island where Pruitt Prep should be. And they encounter something totally strange: all their "abilities" are enhanced as soon as they touch foot on shore. But there's a scary creature guarding the school, and once they evade it, they find... nothing. Nothing at all, where the school should be. It's gone.
Their antics don't go unnoticed, however. A teacher (not sure if he's an ally or foe) rescues them, and soon drones are following them, particularly Mars. I won't spoil the plot, not from this point forward. But I will say this: there was one aspect of this book that really irritated both me and my teen daughter, who also read it, and that's the ending. It's abrupt, sudden and comes out of nowhere. I was going to send the book back to the library, unreviewed, until I looked it up; it's the first of a three-book deal.
So, I've never done this before, but I'm actually recommending holding off reading the next one and waiting until all three come out. I guess I'm hoping the sequels are just as good as the set-up for this one. I also imagine on a podcast this functioned as a cliff-hangar, but for a book the ending fell flat into "What the heck?!" frustrating.
English Teachers' Note: The book is an interesting example of how the storytelling medium influences the reader's reaction. If you're looking for stories told in multiple formats to highlight how the format influences the story, this would be a great example! It lends itself to identify, compare / contrast and argumentative writing standards quite well.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
On to the review. Eleven-year-old Mars and his classmates (Aurora, Toothpick, Caddie, and JP) are eagerly counting down the days to their chance to escape 7th grade at H.G. Wells (wink, wink) Middle School by taking the GIFT test to get into exclusive Pruitt Prep, founded by techie guru genius Oliver Pruitt.
Aurora's super smart; Caddie's headaches predict when bad things are going to happen; Toothpick has a prodigious memory; and JP, they/them, doesn't know their own strength. And Mars...he's a Pruitt fanboy. Listens religiously to Pruitt's podcast, every day. Together they're a handful for their principal to manage, constantly up to no good, but generally harmless, pranks and pratfalls that net them a lot of time in detention together.
Then Aurora goes missing. Doesn't respond to any texts. Her house is empty, her parents supposedly moved away overnight. Mars and gang don't buy it. In fact, they find out kids are disappearing all over the world, the smartest, the brightest, poof! And they hook up with others who have proof: the Missing posters, with pictures and dates. What's going on?
Strangely, there are clues in Pruitt's daily broadcast. They follow them up by exploring across the water on the island where Pruitt Prep should be. And they encounter something totally strange: all their "abilities" are enhanced as soon as they touch foot on shore. But there's a scary creature guarding the school, and once they evade it, they find... nothing. Nothing at all, where the school should be. It's gone.
Their antics don't go unnoticed, however. A teacher (not sure if he's an ally or foe) rescues them, and soon drones are following them, particularly Mars. I won't spoil the plot, not from this point forward. But I will say this: there was one aspect of this book that really irritated both me and my teen daughter, who also read it, and that's the ending. It's abrupt, sudden and comes out of nowhere. I was going to send the book back to the library, unreviewed, until I looked it up; it's the first of a three-book deal.
So, I've never done this before, but I'm actually recommending holding off reading the next one and waiting until all three come out. I guess I'm hoping the sequels are just as good as the set-up for this one. I also imagine on a podcast this functioned as a cliff-hangar, but for a book the ending fell flat into "What the heck?!" frustrating.
English Teachers' Note: The book is an interesting example of how the storytelling medium influences the reader's reaction. If you're looking for stories told in multiple formats to highlight how the format influences the story, this would be a great example! It lends itself to identify, compare / contrast and argumentative writing standards quite well.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
August 17, 2021
I loved this! What a great adventure read. I had never even heard of the podcast, much less listened to it(haven’t ever listened to any at all in general), but this makes me WANT to listen to it!
Mars Patel's friend Aurora has disappeared! His teachers are clueless. His mom is stressed out about her jobs. But Mars refuses to give up--after all, his own dad disappeared when Mars was a toddler, before he & Ma moved to Puget Sound from India. Luckily, Mars has a group of loyal friends eager to help--smart Toothpick, strong & stylish JP, & maybe-telepathic Caddie. The clues seem to point toward eccentric tech genius (& Mars's hero) Oliver Pruitt, whose popular podcast now seems to be commenting on their quest! But when the friends investigate Pruitt's mysterious, elite school, nothing is as it seems--& anyone could be deceiving them.
I found the whole idea of this story fascinating. Don’t want to spoil, but from the missing kids, the podcast & Oliver, Pruitt Prep, Mars’s mom, the amazing group of kids at the focus of the story, certain character abilities, to what we’re doing to our earth has led this alternate world to do-So intriguing! I was gripped from the very start. This is told in normal prose mixed with text messages, emails, news clips, & podcast- with a few of its comments included too. I absolutely loved that! I’m not used to reading books with that mix, & I really enjoyed it.
The science type stuff also really intrigued me, & was easy enough for me to even follow. A great adventure with a big, amazing group of friends(love!). Mars is such a loyal, nerdy, amazing, yet mysterious in a way, MC. There’s still so much more to learn about him, the others, & everything period. I loved all the characters, but Caddie has my heart, & especially Toothpick as well. They all bring something unique, important, & priceless to their group.
This is full of mystery, science, friendship, loyalty, courage, humor, adventure, suspense, AMAZING writing, & even conspiracies. A fast paced adventure that I devoured! Lol Highly recommend! Currently reading my ARC of book 2, & loving it so far also! Gorgeous cover by Yuta Onoda too!💜
Mars Patel's friend Aurora has disappeared! His teachers are clueless. His mom is stressed out about her jobs. But Mars refuses to give up--after all, his own dad disappeared when Mars was a toddler, before he & Ma moved to Puget Sound from India. Luckily, Mars has a group of loyal friends eager to help--smart Toothpick, strong & stylish JP, & maybe-telepathic Caddie. The clues seem to point toward eccentric tech genius (& Mars's hero) Oliver Pruitt, whose popular podcast now seems to be commenting on their quest! But when the friends investigate Pruitt's mysterious, elite school, nothing is as it seems--& anyone could be deceiving them.
I found the whole idea of this story fascinating. Don’t want to spoil, but from the missing kids, the podcast & Oliver, Pruitt Prep, Mars’s mom, the amazing group of kids at the focus of the story, certain character abilities, to what we’re doing to our earth has led this alternate world to do-So intriguing! I was gripped from the very start. This is told in normal prose mixed with text messages, emails, news clips, & podcast- with a few of its comments included too. I absolutely loved that! I’m not used to reading books with that mix, & I really enjoyed it.
The science type stuff also really intrigued me, & was easy enough for me to even follow. A great adventure with a big, amazing group of friends(love!). Mars is such a loyal, nerdy, amazing, yet mysterious in a way, MC. There’s still so much more to learn about him, the others, & everything period. I loved all the characters, but Caddie has my heart, & especially Toothpick as well. They all bring something unique, important, & priceless to their group.
This is full of mystery, science, friendship, loyalty, courage, humor, adventure, suspense, AMAZING writing, & even conspiracies. A fast paced adventure that I devoured! Lol Highly recommend! Currently reading my ARC of book 2, & loving it so far also! Gorgeous cover by Yuta Onoda too!💜
July 10, 2020
Mars Patel is a fun story. A good target audience for this book could be age 10- 15, but really anyone can enjoy this. It takes about four chapters to get going, but once it does, it continues at a good pace all the way until the end. I highly recommend this book for any imaginative middle grade reader looking for a good quality book to sink their teeth into. The characters are interesting and diverse, the narrative well paced, and the story unique in comparison to other middle grade books out there currently. I can see this becoming a series and can see a sister series in the future for all of the remaining characters that become separated from the protagonist's narrative. They are that interesting!
I took a star for the unresolved issues between Mars and his mother, how she was in tears and his last face to face encounter with her was one of deceit and putting himself in harm's way by sneaking out and endangering himself. Also, we never do get to find out what mom does for a living, why she is dead set on relocating to Cleveland, and where Mars' father went (though I suspect he is on Mars). If there is a follow up book that solves these issues, I will change my rating from four to five stars.
I hope readers will enjoy this book. I certainly did. :-)
I took a star for the unresolved issues between Mars and his mother, how she was in tears and his last face to face encounter with her was one of deceit and putting himself in harm's way by sneaking out and endangering himself. Also, we never do get to find out what mom does for a living, why she is dead set on relocating to Cleveland, and where Mars' father went (though I suspect he is on Mars). If there is a follow up book that solves these issues, I will change my rating from four to five stars.
I hope readers will enjoy this book. I certainly did. :-)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2020
As a Children’s librarian, I’m always looking for excellent new books to share. The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel is awesome! I loved this kid-centered sci-fi adventure mystery.
The characters, Mars and his circle of friends, are genuine and each of them has their own arc of development throughout the book. I appreciate, too, that the kids are diverse in various ways, including unique abilities and challenges AND this is communicated naturally. That’s a strength of all of Chari’s books.
The story, originally a podcast, works well as a book. I relished the uneasiness of the ambiguities: you can’t tell which grown ups to trust, and what is Mar’s Mom up to, and are the missing children ok? I was reminded of the world in Spy Kids, with its tech gadgets, intrepid kids and rescue mission. The scenes are vivid and there’s plenty of action. I’m reminded, a bit, of A Wrinkle in Time, too, with its imagined other worlds and semi-nebulous figures, it’s search for a missing person and many secrets.
I can’t wait to recommend The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel to children! and looking forward to sequels! The suspense!
The characters, Mars and his circle of friends, are genuine and each of them has their own arc of development throughout the book. I appreciate, too, that the kids are diverse in various ways, including unique abilities and challenges AND this is communicated naturally. That’s a strength of all of Chari’s books.
The story, originally a podcast, works well as a book. I relished the uneasiness of the ambiguities: you can’t tell which grown ups to trust, and what is Mar’s Mom up to, and are the missing children ok? I was reminded of the world in Spy Kids, with its tech gadgets, intrepid kids and rescue mission. The scenes are vivid and there’s plenty of action. I’m reminded, a bit, of A Wrinkle in Time, too, with its imagined other worlds and semi-nebulous figures, it’s search for a missing person and many secrets.
I can’t wait to recommend The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel to children! and looking forward to sequels! The suspense!
June 15, 2021
As someone who loved the podcast, I was super excited to see this was a book! But as other reviewers have said, I think this story translates better as a podcast than the story. I couldn't get into it as much as I got into the podcast. It didn't give me the same action packed feeling. However, with that being said, I know that for some of my students listening to the podcast was a bit of a struggle. Because the book follows the storyline closely, it would be useful in my classroom and I know my students who were struggling with getting through the podcast would enjoy this book very much.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Read
July 21, 2021it was fine. All in all fine. that's really all I have to say. The cliff hanger is a bit frustrating, so I'll will definitely be getting my hands on the second book in the series.
Conclusion:
Fine
Conclusion:
Fine
September 10, 2022
If it wasn't already abundantly clear from my status updates, I found the characters of this book confusing. There are 6 in the main friend group, who are friends only because the story tells us they are. The only character that convinced me they care about the others is JP. For everyone else, I barely believe it. (Also, I love JP. They are my favorite and these problems do not apply to them).
I'm repeatedly hit over the head with they're really close, like SUPER close, don't you understand? they're soooo close! in regards to Mars and Aurora but there is not a single scene provided from which I could reach this conclusion myself. I didn't think Caddie and Mars were supposed to be very good friends until some chapters later in when we're told that they've known each other the longest and rely on each other constantly. pardon me?? since when??
And I always assume friendship in MG (a courtesy I don't extend to YA lmao) but this is either extremely heteronormative or these character relationships are unnecessarily vague. It's almost like the book doesn't want to outright tell you that characters have crushes on each other, just wants you to assume that because one is a guy and one is a girl and they are friends lmfao. So we end up with a weird love triangle that's maybe not a love triangle at all, where one of the characters doesn't even make a single appearance in the book 😭
here are some of my reading notes, maybe you'll see what I mean:
"does caddie like mars is that what I'm supposed to be getting from this"
"no nvm I don't think so"
"wait no I think she does like him"
"ok but mars doesn't like her? right?"
"WAIT i thought mars and aurora don't like each other help what's going on"
"is this caddie wanting to be besties like they used to be or a love triangle. i'm so serious when i say i'm lost"
"so he DOES like caddie (i think) jfc i'm still not fully sure and we're two-thirds of the way thru"
"i give up"
And this isn't even getting into the random plot point of two characters starting to date halfway through LMAO but I need to stop talking about this or I'll be talking forever
Also poor Jonas 😭 he went missing too and we at least got a few scenes with him but he was constantly ignored in favor of the obsession with finding Aurora. I could not tell you a single trait about Aurora. I had no feelings towards her. None. That was kind of the problem too. Other than JP, I didn't really care about any of them. There was a sort of sacrifice scene near the end and it didn't hit at ALL emotionally bc I wasn't connected to any of the characters 💀
Beyond all that, the execution of what sounds like such a great premise was... kind of flat. It all felt like setup. Mars and his friends have an idea about how to find their missing friends. They enact the idea but discover nothing. They get caught and punished. Rinse and repeat. When we finally get one answer, it's at the end of the book, as a cliffhanger for book 2.
And YET. I will still read the next book because I'm hoping we actually get some answers lol. And this book did have some good moments. I liked the diversity, especially Mars's Indian identity. I still think the premise of the whole series is super interesting. I just feel that some things probably got lost or weren't fleshed out because of the transition from podcast to book.
I'm repeatedly hit over the head with they're really close, like SUPER close, don't you understand? they're soooo close! in regards to Mars and Aurora but there is not a single scene provided from which I could reach this conclusion myself. I didn't think Caddie and Mars were supposed to be very good friends until some chapters later in when we're told that they've known each other the longest and rely on each other constantly. pardon me?? since when??
And I always assume friendship in MG (a courtesy I don't extend to YA lmao) but this is either extremely heteronormative or these character relationships are unnecessarily vague. It's almost like the book doesn't want to outright tell you that characters have crushes on each other, just wants you to assume that because one is a guy and one is a girl and they are friends lmfao. So we end up with a weird love triangle that's maybe not a love triangle at all, where one of the characters doesn't even make a single appearance in the book 😭
here are some of my reading notes, maybe you'll see what I mean:
"does caddie like mars is that what I'm supposed to be getting from this"
"no nvm I don't think so"
"wait no I think she does like him"
"ok but mars doesn't like her? right?"
"WAIT i thought mars and aurora don't like each other help what's going on"
"is this caddie wanting to be besties like they used to be or a love triangle. i'm so serious when i say i'm lost"
"so he DOES like caddie (i think) jfc i'm still not fully sure and we're two-thirds of the way thru"
"i give up"
And this isn't even getting into the random plot point of two characters starting to date halfway through LMAO but I need to stop talking about this or I'll be talking forever
Also poor Jonas 😭 he went missing too and we at least got a few scenes with him but he was constantly ignored in favor of the obsession with finding Aurora. I could not tell you a single trait about Aurora. I had no feelings towards her. None. That was kind of the problem too. Other than JP, I didn't really care about any of them. There was a sort of sacrifice scene near the end and it didn't hit at ALL emotionally bc I wasn't connected to any of the characters 💀
Beyond all that, the execution of what sounds like such a great premise was... kind of flat. It all felt like setup. Mars and his friends have an idea about how to find their missing friends. They enact the idea but discover nothing. They get caught and punished. Rinse and repeat. When we finally get one answer, it's at the end of the book, as a cliffhanger for book 2.
And YET. I will still read the next book because I'm hoping we actually get some answers lol. And this book did have some good moments. I liked the diversity, especially Mars's Indian identity. I still think the premise of the whole series is super interesting. I just feel that some things probably got lost or weren't fleshed out because of the transition from podcast to book.
June 8, 2020
To be honest I thought this podcast was going to be boring. But my thoughts changed when I listened to the first episode. When I was first listening I did not know what to expect, when I read the title I thought that it was going to be lame because it sounded like some science-fiction stuff. But when I was listening not hearing but LISTENING I found a whole new world of things to want to know, especially because of the great cliffhangers each episode had. With the drama and emotion that was going on between the friend group I was ready for the next episode. When I was listening I did not see a video I got the chance of visualizing the whole thing, from the school, to the island, and to Mars Patel´s house. Now there were some moments where it was taking a long time to get to the action, or to get to some good stuff like the dance because in my opinion I did not care much about the dance and like if Caddie and Mars were going to the dance together that stuff I did not care much about. But overall this podcast was really good.
August 5, 2020
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
I would recommend this middle grade sci fi mystery. It’s based on an award winning podcast, but you can still enjoy and follow the story even if you haven’t listened to the podcast. “Mars Patel” follows the main character Mars and his group of friends as they try to figure out why two of their best friends and several other kids around the world have gone missing. Mars thinks that Oliver Pruitt (who’s a Elon Musk type character) is giving out clues about where the students went during his popular podcast. Pruitt also runs an elite boarding school that Mars and his friends are trying to be accepted to. There’s also a good representation of diversity among the characters. It’s a good mystery for kids who want suspense and action but don’t like “scary” books. The book ends with a major cliffhanger so I’m sure this will be a series.
I would recommend this middle grade sci fi mystery. It’s based on an award winning podcast, but you can still enjoy and follow the story even if you haven’t listened to the podcast. “Mars Patel” follows the main character Mars and his group of friends as they try to figure out why two of their best friends and several other kids around the world have gone missing. Mars thinks that Oliver Pruitt (who’s a Elon Musk type character) is giving out clues about where the students went during his popular podcast. Pruitt also runs an elite boarding school that Mars and his friends are trying to be accepted to. There’s also a good representation of diversity among the characters. It’s a good mystery for kids who want suspense and action but don’t like “scary” books. The book ends with a major cliffhanger so I’m sure this will be a series.
October 4, 2020
I was really hoping to like this one because it was so fast-paced right out of the gate.
However, I felt that the characters were flat. Toothpick was smart, JP was strong and always hungry, Caddie could read minds/emotions. Mars was the most well-rounded but even then I wasn't as sucked in by his character as I wanted to be.
The book is mostly a mystery as to what happened to a couple of Mars's friends, but nothing really happens until around 80% and then it lost me. A lot of things were thrown at us at once, and the book ends on a huge cliffhanger on what feels like the climax of the story.
I want to know more, but I don't know if I'll pick up the next book.
FYI, there are trigger warnings for transphobic (?) dialogue, misgendering of a non-binary character, and a Code Red (lockdown) at school.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
However, I felt that the characters were flat. Toothpick was smart, JP was strong and always hungry, Caddie could read minds/emotions. Mars was the most well-rounded but even then I wasn't as sucked in by his character as I wanted to be.
The book is mostly a mystery as to what happened to a couple of Mars's friends, but nothing really happens until around 80% and then it lost me. A lot of things were thrown at us at once, and the book ends on a huge cliffhanger on what feels like the climax of the story.
I want to know more, but I don't know if I'll pick up the next book.
FYI, there are trigger warnings for transphobic (?) dialogue, misgendering of a non-binary character, and a Code Red (lockdown) at school.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2020
Really enjoyed the diverse characters in this middle grade and the plot was really exciting. This book was very fun to read and kept me engaged in the mystery. Although I enjoyed the plot, I felt the ending to be a little incomplete. The ending didn’t confused me, I just wish there was a few more pages to wrap up some loose ends.
October 2, 2020
still ruminating on this. review to come.
February 12, 2021
So good. So so full of adventure and intrigue. An awesome first book in a hopefully long series of books.
April 4, 2021
I DEVOURED THIS BOOK! Oh my goodness what a great mystery and cliff hanger with such lovable characters! I seriously hope they turn this into a show!!
April 29, 2023
A fast-paced, sci-fi mystery with a diverse cast of characters! What's not to love?! Ideal for middle grade students.
June 4, 2020
Solid production of the audiobook but suffers from delayed plot development, inconsistent character development, and a lack of focus. I can see this appealing to very young readers just because the primary concept is that kids can do everything better than adults. I found the characters to be whiny and annoying. Perhaps the deal breaker for me is that the premise is one of kid geniuses but the story is ineffective (in fact it never even tries) at highlighting scientific principles or experiments. I listened to the audio on Pinna.fm
June 25, 2020
I have to say, I did not really get into this book until so close to the end that the cliffhanger was a disappointment for me. I was not sure what I was expecting from the ending but it was not a cliffhanger.
I did not feel any particular attachment to the characters, which made it difficult to connect with the book until it really got interesting.
I also felt that all of the adults seemed a little off. How many adults are really that stereotypically mean or unobservant?
I did not feel any particular attachment to the characters, which made it difficult to connect with the book until it really got interesting.
I also felt that all of the adults seemed a little off. How many adults are really that stereotypically mean or unobservant?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2024
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel is a diverse high-tech MG sci-fi mystery. Mars Patel has always idolized Oliver Pruitt, who runs an elite school and has a cryptic podcast that Mars would never miss. But when Mars’s friends start to go missing, he thinks that Oliver just might have something to do with it. I love the representation in this novel—main characters are Indian, white, and Black, and one is non-binary. Middle grade readers will love the fact that Mars and his friends are seemingly normal, but they all have certain abilities or talents that get amplified as the book goes on. It really gives a sense that maybe anyone could be a sort of superhero. The mystery pulls you along and keeps you wondering what’s really happening with Mars’s friends, and the ending gives a satisfying showdown (but kids who want a storyline to be at least partially wrapped up in one book will have to wait).
This is based on a podcast, and I’m curious to listen to it now—if anyone’s heard it, let me know what you think in the comments.
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel is a diverse high-tech MG sci-fi mystery. Mars Patel has always idolized Oliver Pruitt, who runs an elite school and has a cryptic podcast that Mars would never miss. But when Mars’s friends start to go missing, he thinks that Oliver just might have something to do with it. I love the representation in this novel—main characters are Indian, white, and Black, and one is non-binary. Middle grade readers will love the fact that Mars and his friends are seemingly normal, but they all have certain abilities or talents that get amplified as the book goes on. It really gives a sense that maybe anyone could be a sort of superhero. The mystery pulls you along and keeps you wondering what’s really happening with Mars’s friends, and the ending gives a satisfying showdown (but kids who want a storyline to be at least partially wrapped up in one book will have to wait).
This is based on a podcast, and I’m curious to listen to it now—if anyone’s heard it, let me know what you think in the comments.
January 21, 2021
poor character development; unbelievable plot; hokey writing
July 2, 2023
I listened to this at school (3.3⭐️ ) It was very enjoyable, and had boring parts. It was good though.
September 15, 2020
Science fiction meets mystery and a group of kids, who consider themselves nerds, to go head-to-head with a billionaire in an interesting tale.
Mars is one of a group of six friends, who are each a little different in their own way, but stick together like glue. When two of the members disappear, Mars notices that there are some interesting coincidences between what is happening and what the speaker in his favorite podcast says. In hopes to find out what happened to the two friends, Mars and the others head out and into adventure.
When I saw that this is the book version of a very exciting podcast, I was...well, very excited. The idea of a group of 'smart' kids taking on a madman billionaire isn't only exciting, but something I haven't seen done in awhile. It's a great surmise. But works as a podcast does not automatically make the same tale a great read. However, this one isn't horrible either...just not as good as expected.
I do enjoy how this leaps from regular 'book' mode to texting to letters to podcast excerpts and back again. It definitely adds a bit more fun and was a great way to hit some plot points quick and effective. The characters also are terrific with their interactions and friendship. This is a lively bunch, who come across as pretty average kids. It's fun to read and fun to meet them. And when they head into adventure, it's a treat to watch them take on every obstacle. And I'm sure the podcast does this even better. But it is exciting to read too.
My problems with this were that it was missing some connection, depth, and simple cutting. First off, there were moments the plot and what was happening felt like a bouncy rubber ball. Assumptions were made, I'm not really sure how they got there, a character's comments would come in from nowhere, and well, it was sometimes a bit chaotic and disconnected. Also, the characters were just there. Their dialogue didn't definitely give personality, but even the missing kids were totally backgroundless. I wasn't sure why I should care that they went missing. Just because they belonged to a group wasn't enough. And while Mars gained depth, the others were pretty much left just as shallow. Also, I never understood what made most of these kids especially smart or genius or why in the world they were friends in the first place. And last but not least, the pacing felt stretched and unfocused at times. There's a lot happening, but some of that had nothing to do with the main plot. It was side noise that added fill, and the entire book (at over 300 pages) could have been condensed.
Now, that I feel like a sour-apple, I still want to say that this isn't really bad either. There is a lot going on, and the characters are packed with energy...and they have a pretty evil guy to go against with high stakes as well. I'm just betting this is better as a podcast than a book.
I received an ARC and now, am dying to hear the podcast.
Mars is one of a group of six friends, who are each a little different in their own way, but stick together like glue. When two of the members disappear, Mars notices that there are some interesting coincidences between what is happening and what the speaker in his favorite podcast says. In hopes to find out what happened to the two friends, Mars and the others head out and into adventure.
When I saw that this is the book version of a very exciting podcast, I was...well, very excited. The idea of a group of 'smart' kids taking on a madman billionaire isn't only exciting, but something I haven't seen done in awhile. It's a great surmise. But works as a podcast does not automatically make the same tale a great read. However, this one isn't horrible either...just not as good as expected.
I do enjoy how this leaps from regular 'book' mode to texting to letters to podcast excerpts and back again. It definitely adds a bit more fun and was a great way to hit some plot points quick and effective. The characters also are terrific with their interactions and friendship. This is a lively bunch, who come across as pretty average kids. It's fun to read and fun to meet them. And when they head into adventure, it's a treat to watch them take on every obstacle. And I'm sure the podcast does this even better. But it is exciting to read too.
My problems with this were that it was missing some connection, depth, and simple cutting. First off, there were moments the plot and what was happening felt like a bouncy rubber ball. Assumptions were made, I'm not really sure how they got there, a character's comments would come in from nowhere, and well, it was sometimes a bit chaotic and disconnected. Also, the characters were just there. Their dialogue didn't definitely give personality, but even the missing kids were totally backgroundless. I wasn't sure why I should care that they went missing. Just because they belonged to a group wasn't enough. And while Mars gained depth, the others were pretty much left just as shallow. Also, I never understood what made most of these kids especially smart or genius or why in the world they were friends in the first place. And last but not least, the pacing felt stretched and unfocused at times. There's a lot happening, but some of that had nothing to do with the main plot. It was side noise that added fill, and the entire book (at over 300 pages) could have been condensed.
Now, that I feel like a sour-apple, I still want to say that this isn't really bad either. There is a lot going on, and the characters are packed with energy...and they have a pretty evil guy to go against with high stakes as well. I'm just betting this is better as a podcast than a book.
I received an ARC and now, am dying to hear the podcast.
November 3, 2021
In my opinion, this made a better podcast than a book, although I'm glad I read it because it spelled out more specifically some things that went by very quickly as spoken-word. For example, more identifying visual-appearance notes & family/life situations about the main characters. (I appreciated very much the diversity of characters by gender, body shape, ethnicity, etc. & the fact that everyone focused on their capacities even while simultaneously accommodating for their incapacities.)
However, a side-effect of that was the absence of a similar level of description for other characters, whose identity had to be minimalized to build suspense around the mystery.
This was a unique experience for me - to listen to about 3 episodes of the podcast, and then read the book - so I learned about myself that I will gloss over & suspend disbelief for a spoken word presentation that I do *not* allow myself in a written text. If I feel liked I missed something in a printed book, I flip pages back to refresh my memory. I rarely rewind or revisit earlier minutes in a recording, I just assumed the jarring contradiction arose because my mind wandered while they were talking.
In addition, so much is created with background sounds!!! In the podcast, listeners could clearly understand that the characters entered the school hallway because of the sounds. Therefore, the book felt almost pedantic when it described "too many" of their movements, and confusing blank when it described "too few." This made me really appreciative of the art of creating radio drama!! and equally appreciative of other books that have more cohesion & consistency in the bigger picture that encompasses the characters' movements & actions.
In this book, I kept waiting for examples of what made Oliver Pruitt so amazing, and what made Mars & his friends so special...and this made me notice the scarcity of tech- & science-based conversations.
Mars & others repeat the fact that he idolizes Oliver Pruitt, but it's like a celebrity crush; we have no idea what complex thoughts or insights Mars has other than pulling complex, clever, & hilarious pranks on classmates & teachers, and we have no idea what Mars loves so much about what Oliver Pruitt does - sells, makes, invents, presents.
The ubiquitous cryptic statements & behaviors are clearly red flags (for me as an adult reader perhaps more than a young reader??), and yet they occur without remark or response, until the moment when the detective-show-like "aha!" happens, and the "clues" click together. At that point, won't any age reader wonder why they didn't ask more questions when the very *first* odd things happened? (For example, the bullies never get detention, only the victims; everyone in the school has to take a test to get admitted to a very exclusive academy; Mars' mom says she respects his thought process but will not answer any of his questions.)
I give the podcast 5 stars, the book 3.
However, a side-effect of that was the absence of a similar level of description for other characters, whose identity had to be minimalized to build suspense around the mystery.
This was a unique experience for me - to listen to about 3 episodes of the podcast, and then read the book - so I learned about myself that I will gloss over & suspend disbelief for a spoken word presentation that I do *not* allow myself in a written text. If I feel liked I missed something in a printed book, I flip pages back to refresh my memory. I rarely rewind or revisit earlier minutes in a recording, I just assumed the jarring contradiction arose because my mind wandered while they were talking.
In addition, so much is created with background sounds!!! In the podcast, listeners could clearly understand that the characters entered the school hallway because of the sounds. Therefore, the book felt almost pedantic when it described "too many" of their movements, and confusing blank when it described "too few." This made me really appreciative of the art of creating radio drama!! and equally appreciative of other books that have more cohesion & consistency in the bigger picture that encompasses the characters' movements & actions.
In this book, I kept waiting for examples of what made Oliver Pruitt so amazing, and what made Mars & his friends so special...and this made me notice the scarcity of tech- & science-based conversations.
Mars & others repeat the fact that he idolizes Oliver Pruitt, but it's like a celebrity crush; we have no idea what complex thoughts or insights Mars has other than pulling complex, clever, & hilarious pranks on classmates & teachers, and we have no idea what Mars loves so much about what Oliver Pruitt does - sells, makes, invents, presents.
The ubiquitous cryptic statements & behaviors are clearly red flags (for me as an adult reader perhaps more than a young reader??), and yet they occur without remark or response, until the moment when the detective-show-like "aha!" happens, and the "clues" click together. At that point, won't any age reader wonder why they didn't ask more questions when the very *first* odd things happened? (For example, the bullies never get detention, only the victims; everyone in the school has to take a test to get admitted to a very exclusive academy; Mars' mom says she respects his thought process but will not answer any of his questions.)
I give the podcast 5 stars, the book 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2022
🌑🎇💻THE UNEXPLAINABLE DISAPPEARANCE OF MARS PATEL💻🎇🌑
When Mars Patel's friends Aurora and Jonas disappear, Mars is determined to find them. Mars and his crew are looking for answers. Oliver Pruitt, the most powerful man in the world who is also Mars idol. Through Oliver's podcast, Mars thinks he can find clues to where is friends are. But when he finds out that Pruitt Prep is not where it is supposed to be, his idol is not who he thinks he is, and mysterious drones follow him. The truth is not what he expected.
𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤. But I didn't like this as much as I wanted to. First of all, I'm not really into mystery/sci-fi-ish genre. I really wanted to try this book though. Now that I have both books at home, I will probably read book two. The plot had a lot of potential. It was so interesting. Kids going missing all over the world; a rich man who's decisions are questionable; and kids who develop magical powers.
The thing with the plot was that the pacing was very irregular. It seemed to dwindle and separate. The main focus was for him to find his friends, but several times it went on completely different subjects. There were also plot holes. It didn't really make sense how Caddie always had empathy/telepathy? "I can feel thoughts." She can feel them but not see them in direct words...? Then when they went to a certain area, JP was stronger and didn't burn in the fire. Toothpick was smarter, and Caddie's telepathy was stronger. Except nothing happened to Mars, Epica, or anyone else. The plot was very slow at the beginning. Near the middle we get clues, but dead ends. Then around the last few chapters of the book, we get a plot twist. One that was easy to see from the start. Then near the end we see it's messy, with unconclusive and unanswered. Around the last few pages it gets really interesting, which I wish it could have been as interesting from the start.
The characters were easily likable. Neither did I find myself attached to them. They played pranks. Mars liked Aurora but then switched to liking Caddie. Mars was worried about his friends, but it wasn't believable. They texted and talked a lot like a tween would, and Sheela got that part really accurate. Out of all of them, I think JP was the most interesting. They had the most character exploration.
⛔PLOT
⛔PLOT TWIST
🆗CHARACTERS
When Mars Patel's friends Aurora and Jonas disappear, Mars is determined to find them. Mars and his crew are looking for answers. Oliver Pruitt, the most powerful man in the world who is also Mars idol. Through Oliver's podcast, Mars thinks he can find clues to where is friends are. But when he finds out that Pruitt Prep is not where it is supposed to be, his idol is not who he thinks he is, and mysterious drones follow him. The truth is not what he expected.
𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤. But I didn't like this as much as I wanted to. First of all, I'm not really into mystery/sci-fi-ish genre. I really wanted to try this book though. Now that I have both books at home, I will probably read book two. The plot had a lot of potential. It was so interesting. Kids going missing all over the world; a rich man who's decisions are questionable; and kids who develop magical powers.
The thing with the plot was that the pacing was very irregular. It seemed to dwindle and separate. The main focus was for him to find his friends, but several times it went on completely different subjects. There were also plot holes. It didn't really make sense how Caddie always had empathy/telepathy? "I can feel thoughts." She can feel them but not see them in direct words...? Then when they went to a certain area, JP was stronger and didn't burn in the fire. Toothpick was smarter, and Caddie's telepathy was stronger. Except nothing happened to Mars, Epica, or anyone else. The plot was very slow at the beginning. Near the middle we get clues, but dead ends. Then around the last few chapters of the book, we get a plot twist. One that was easy to see from the start. Then near the end we see it's messy, with unconclusive and unanswered. Around the last few pages it gets really interesting, which I wish it could have been as interesting from the start.
The characters were easily likable. Neither did I find myself attached to them. They played pranks. Mars liked Aurora but then switched to liking Caddie. Mars was worried about his friends, but it wasn't believable. They texted and talked a lot like a tween would, and Sheela got that part really accurate. Out of all of them, I think JP was the most interesting. They had the most character exploration.
⛔PLOT
⛔PLOT TWIST
🆗CHARACTERS
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