Starred Review ALA Booklist

Starred Review In 2004, two unusual robots landed on Mars: Spirit and Opportunity. Controlled by scientists at NASA, the golf-cart-sized, remote-controlled rovers roll slowly across the planet's terrain, collect and analyze geological samples, and transfer data (including pictures) back to earth. Although the rovers were designed to last for 90 days, they continue to work more than five years later. In this well-designed book, Siy provides a clearly written overview of the rovers' explorations on Mars. The inclusion of many quotes from astronomer Steve Squyres, "principal investigator" for the Mars rover mission, offers a scientist's point of view on day-to-day challenges and rewards of the project, which succeeded in finding traces of water in the planet's geological record. The book's fine paper quality allows for excellent reproduction of the well-captioned illustrations: photos taken on earth, color and black-and-white images from Mars, artistic conceptions of space scenes, as well as a clearly labeled diagram of a Mars rover. Appendixes include a bibliography, a glossary, a brief source note, and a page of additional information with pointers to related Web sites, including one that tracks the current status of Spirit and Opportunity. Handsome and informative.

School Library Journal Starred Review

Gr 5-8 Dubbed Spirit and Opportunity in a naming contest won by a nine-year-old, the two golf-cart-sized rovers sent to Mars in 2003 were designed to last for three months. Battered but game, theyre still inching along all these years later. Here Siy not only pays affectionate tribute to their longevitytitling her final chapter Shake off the dust, recharge at the rest area, and continue indefinitelybut also describes and explains in exact detail their most stirring discovery: strong evidence that water once drenched, dribbled, dripped, doused, trickled, gushed, and poured on the Martian surface. An array of large illustrations includes a labeled diagram that identifies all of the rovers scientific gear, plus color photos, photo composites, and (carefully identified) artists conceptions of Martian vistas, craters, rocks, and even microscopic features. Closing with plenty of useful end matter and a full-page planetary portrait, this title will sweep readers up in an exploratory mission that has come closer than any other so far to finding sure signs of extraterrestrial life. John Peters, New York Public Library

Horn Book

Siy describes the Mars Exploration Rover program, focusing on the purpose of the mission, the scientists involved, and the advancements in our understandings of the surface of Mars. Front and center are the two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, which continue to function well past their expected expiration dates. The data they collect translates into spectacular photographs, clearly underscoring the mission's scientific value. Websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Kirkus Reviews

Originally expected to last only 90 days, Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity have been exploring the geology of the Red Planet since they arrived in 2004. The information they send home includes striking panoramic and close-up images of the Martian landscape, the heart of this intriguing account. Organized as a series of instructions to the robot cars, the text follows their progress from an idea in the mind of geologist Steve Squyres, through launches and landings on opposite sides of the planet, to their subsequent stops and starts. Diagrams, composite images and pictures of work Earthside complement the rovers' beautifully reproduced photographs. Presented chronologically, their story is told in a conversational tone, with familiar food comparisons (the Victoria crater's layers are likened to a 15-scoop ice-cream cone). Still, readers may feel overwhelmed by the amount of information and be confused by which rover is where doing what. A series of maps would have helped. Siy's enthusiasm is evident and she includes extensive suggestions for continued exploration of this exciting, ongoing project. (further research, glossary, bibliography, photo credits, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)