The Martian
Read the book?
Seen the movie?
Yes and yes.
I love a science fiction or fantasy novel that includes real science. And the book has more science than the movie.
Is the book The Martian, by Andy Weir, suitable for kids?
While there are a couple of F-bombs, blood, real peril, and a naked backside (a few highlights of what families might be concerned about), our family found the movie The Martian more uplifting than the movies Gravity and Interstellar. (For a “tamer” family science fiction movie, see my post on Tomorrowland.)
Did your kids love the movie the Martian?
The Martian, the book, has a straight-forward prose style that would appeal to reluctant boy readers. But would I recommend it for kids?
The short answer? I wish the publisher would release a middle grade “movie version” of the novel with the more extensive science and engineering added back in. I will be giving it to my seventeen-year-old son, after we discuss some differences between the book and the movie. But I still wish Kindle allowed edits of personal copies for all the F-bombs, like the movie (mostly) did. However, I wouldn’t give it to my nephew of the same age without asking his mom’s permission.
I’ve been wanting to do a full review, but a broken wrist is slowing me down. Luckily Clark Valentine over at the fabulous book review site, Read4Tweens, has done it for me. If you don’t have time to read the book yourself first, check out the thorough parent review of the book The Martian on Reads4Tweens.
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