Last Day on Mars (Chronicle of the Dark Star)
Kevin Emerson
Last Day on Mars (Chronicle of the Dark Star)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kevin Emerson
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Liam races through the crumbling Martian colony as alarms blare all around him. His mission? To board the last starliner leaving the doomed planet—and maybe save humanity. But when a shocking secret about time and space surfaces, everything Liam thought he knew is turned upside down.
Quick Assessment
Set in the year 2213, this middle-grade science fiction novel follows Liam and Phoebe, two young heroes on Mars facing the planet's imminent destruction. The story combines thrilling space adventure with scientific concepts, exploring themes of survival, friendship, and cosmic mystery. Suitable for ages 9-12, it balances action and humor without graphic content, making it a compelling yet age-appropriate read.
Why we rated Last Day on Mars (Chronicle of the Dark Star) 12MT
Last Day on Mars (Chronicle of the Dark Star) is written at a Level 7 reading level across 336 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Last Day on Mars (Chronicle of the Dark Star) works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Last Day on Mars (Chronicle of the Dark Star) as 12MT ("Moderate — Thematic") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Last Day on Mars (Chronicle of the Dark Star) explores science & nature, adventure, survival, friendship, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about science & nature, adventure, survival.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12MT — Moderate — ThematicLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062306715
- Pages
- 336
- Publisher
- Walden Pond Press
- Published
- Feb 14, 2017
- Type
- Fiction