About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is seeking a grand, high stakes adventure that explores themes of perseverance and the search for home. This classic science fiction sequel follows John Carter as he finally returns to Mars, only to discover that the paradise he expected is actually a dangerous land of deception and monsters. It is an ideal pick for readers who enjoy world building and tales of survival against impossible odds. While the story is filled with action and imaginative creatures, it also touches on the loneliness of being separated from loved ones and the courage required to challenge long held, harmful beliefs. Parents should note that as a vintage work, it contains stylized pulp violence and complex vocabulary that will stretch a middle or high schooler's reading level.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
1. DISTRESS: The book contains visceral descriptions of combat and monsters. Specifically, the 'plant men' have mouths in their palms and suck the blood from their victims, which may be disturbing for younger or more sensitive readers. There are also scenes of captives being fed to monsters in gladiatorial arenas. 2. CONVERSATION: Be ready to discuss the concept of 'false idols' and systemic deception. The Therns maintain power by tricking the entire planet into believing a lie about the afterlife. This provides an opportunity to talk about critical thinking and questioning authority.
Ideal Reader
A middle or high schooler who loves 'Star Wars' or 'Dune' and is ready to tackle the 'grandfather' of modern space fantasy. It is perfect for a student who enjoys complex world-building and doesn't mind archaic, flowery language. This book is a direct sequel to 'A Princess of Mars.' While it provides some context, reading the first book is highly recommended for a better experience.
Parent Prep
Parents should be prepared to help readers process the dark revelation of the "slaughterhouse" afterlife, which involves a high level of gore and a cynical view of religious institutions. It is helpful to frame the Therns' deception as a cautionary tale about blind faith and the importance of verifying the claims of those in power. Additionally, as a text from 1913, parents may want to discuss the era’s depictions of gender roles (the damsel in distress) and the historical context of the protagonist as a 19th-century Virginian soldier, which may influence his perspective on different Martian cultures. The scene where Carter discovers that the 'heaven' everyone on Mars has been striving for is actually a slaughterhouse where people are eaten by monsters.
Age Experience
Younger teens will focus on the monsters and the cool 'superpowers' John Carter has due to Martian gravity. Older teens will better appreciate the political intrigue and the critique of institutionalized deception.
What Makes It Special
This book is one of the earliest examples of 'World Building' in science fiction, creating a complete alien ecology, language, and mythology that influenced almost every space adventure that followed.
Read plot summary
Ten years after being forced back to Earth, John Carter is mysteriously transported back to Mars (Barsoom). He materializes in the Valley Dor, a place Martians believe is a peaceful afterlife but is actually a deadly trap run by the Holy Therns and filled with man-eating plant monsters and Great Apes. Carter must fight his way out, reunite with his friend Tars Tarkas, and expose a global religious fraud while searching for his wife, Dejah Thoris.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The Martians believe that the Valley Dor is a paradise, but it turns out to be a trap. Why do you think no one on Mars had discovered the truth for so long?
2
John Carter often relies on his physical strength, but how does his loyalty to his friends like Tars Tarkas help him more than his sword ever could?
3
If you were transported to another planet and gained superpowers like John Carter, would you use them to help others or to find a way back home first?
4
The Holy Therns use secrets to keep their power. How does John Carter's arrival change the way other Martians see their world?
5
How does the author use the different Martian 'races' (Green, Red, White, Black) to show how people can be divided, and how does John Carter bridge those gaps?
