{"product_id":"scratching-the-surface-generation-mars-prelude-paperback","title":"Scratching the Surface: Generation Mars, Prelude - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eDouglas D. Meredith\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eLuis Peres\u003c\/b\u003e (Illustrator)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatured in \u003cem\u003eEmily Lakdawalla's Recommended Space Books for Kids, \u003c\/em\u003e from \u003cem\u003eThe Planetary Society\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGeneration Mars is hard science fiction, scaled for kids. Following sisters Cas and Ori, the series explores the nature of life for the first children born on Mars. In this introduction to the series, the sisters have their first experience with the surface of Mars, a milestone that turns out to be bigger than anyone expected. Future books will address fundamental issues of survival on Mars: air, shelter, water, food, etc. The series strives for scientific accuracy while telling the very human stories of children growing up in an environment unlike any that children have grown up in before.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the back cover: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne day, in the near future, children will be born on Mars. The environment they grow up in will be very different from yours. And yet, they will be children, just like you. They will have dreams and worries, just like you. They will go to school; they will play; they will cry; they will laugh: in so many ways, just like you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut their sky won't be blue. They will never see an ocean. They will never go to an amusement park or go camping in a forest. They will never hear the sound of rain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInstead, they will have blue sunsets. They might camp on the tallest volcano or in the deepest canyon in the solar system. They will ride in rovers and rockets. They will walk through rocky red landscapes that have changed little in billions of years. They will be part of the development of an entirely new branch of human existence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst among these children of Mars is Cas. She and her sister, Ori, live underground as protection against the radiation that reaches the surface of Mars. They have never seen the surface of their planet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUntil now.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the author: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI'll be honest with you: this book is a bit of an oddball. Scratching the Surface started as a picture book. This is evident in the light and nonintimidating plot. But it outgrew that form rather quickly, as I added point of view from other characters and technological concepts I wanted readers to experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy intent was to write something for early readers that was more advanced than they might typically encounter but still somewhat age appropriate. So much early reader text tends to be either silly or bland. I wanted to create something entirely different. In that, I'm pretty sure I've succeeded. What remains to be seen is whether this will appeal to these readers and their parents.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI hope it does. I have many ideas for these characters and look forward to continuing their story in books to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 96\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.26 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e August 30, 2019\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42104986271879,"sku":"9781733731003","price":17.26,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/2623\/2711\/files\/012f0870efe8b66effb34fb7b1724b38.webp?v=1732430191","url":"https:\/\/booksby.splitshops.com\/products\/scratching-the-surface-generation-mars-prelude-paperback","provider":"Books by splitShops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}