Pretty good for a quick read. It seems very short thanks to the small chapters. Not a lot of character development but lots of good science and interesting plot. Not as good as Forever War but I will be checking out the sequels. Started out Swiss family Robinson on Mars with some really nice work on the world-building then turned into a alien first contact.

Likable teen Carmen Dula departs with her family on an ultimate near-future vacation -- to be short-term colonists of Mars. But long-distance travel in cramped quarters isn't likely to sweeten anyone's disposition: Carmen's got attitude to spare upon arrival; taking out her frustrations on colonial authorities quickly leads to a deadly solo walk in the Martian wastes. What she discovers there will change everything -- if she lives to tell the tale. Fans of the author's signature hard-SF details will not be disappointed by Carmen's story, and this gutsy youthful protagonist gives this book teen appeal. Greg Bear's Moving Mars and Robert Heinlein's classic Red Planet are similarly recommended.

An easy to read straight forward SF story. Starts slow but picks up about midway with a classical finish.

Such a quick, fun read!

Started to read this and realised that I had previously tried to read this and didnt finish it. Quite good storyline but just couldnt get in to it.

Enjoyable read with interesting messages in the plot. Credible characters, Martian and human. Read this one before the sequel.