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Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
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English
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www.christopherswiedler.com

IN THE RED

Christopher Swiedler

Hatchet meets The Martian in this harrowing middle grade survival story about two friends stranded in the middle of the Martian desert with only their spacesuits and their wits to keep them alive.
Michael Prasad knows he should not go out on the Mars surface alone. It is dangerous. His parents have forbidden it. And the overwhelming anxiety he feels almost every time he puts on a space suit makes it nearly impossible for him to leave the safety of the colony. But when his best friend, Lilith, suggests they sneak a rover out for a ride one night, he sees it as an opportunity to prove that he is more capable than everyone thinks.

While they are cruising on the surface, a massive solar flare hits the planet, knocking out all systems and disabling the shields that protect Mars from the sun's radioactive rays. Stranded miles from home with no chance of being rescued, limited supplies, and no way to protect themselves from being poisoned by the sun, Michael and Lilith have no choice but to risk everything if they want to come home alive.

Christopher Swiedler is an author and software engineer who lives with his wife and three children in California, where they're under constant threat from earthquakes, tsunamis, and the occasional Martian dust storm. His goal in life is to win the Newbery Honor (not the Medal itself), because he believes being a runner-up builds good character. In the Red is his debut novel.
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Published 2020-03-01 by HarperCollins

Book

Published 2020-03-01 by HarperCollins

Comments

Michael and Lilith are well-written characters. Their teamwork and ingenuity in the face of danger are admirable. This is a wonderful adventure novel filled with many twists and turns. The story manages to invoke a real sense of danger. The writing is reminiscent of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet and Andy Weir's The Martian - it maintains a skillful blend of science and survivalism to keep readers engaged and invested in the outcome.

In The Red is a thrilling combination of wide-eyed imagination and gritty real science, starring courageous young heroes using their smarts to battle impossible odds. A non-stop, pulse-pounding adventure!

Hang on to your helmets. Christopher Swiedler takes you on a nail-biting, sci-fi adventure where every page holds unexpected peril for his bold heroes. He makes the impossible seem plausible in a universe where strolling on Mars can be normal, wondrous and at times, terrifying. It will leave you breathless.

Swiedler offers a fresh take on heroism through an honest portrayal of the emotional struggle of overcoming anxiety. The friendship between Michael and Lilith feels real and grounded. Readers will be left breathless by stunning descriptions and harrowing feats of survival.