51 pages • 1 hour read
Jennifer L. HolmThe Lion of Mars
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 15-21Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 15 Summary: “Storm”
A dust storm begins. At first, the settlers think it will only last a few days, but it is later confirmed to be a Big One—a planet-wide storm—that could last an indefinite amount of time. Power is rationed, as the storm is preventing the sun from reaching the solar panels and a lot of the batteries are still failing. The children spend their time in the mess hall doing puzzles, and the adults tell stories about their time on Earth. One day, Meems and Salty Bill recall the best meals they have ever had. Meems says that she visited France, which the children find surprising due to their hostile encounter with the French settlers, but she explains that relationships between countries can change.
After Chapter 15, a Secure Communication transcript sent by Sai to Earth states that they are following protocol about the dust storm.
Chapter 16 Summary: “Dust”
Eliana gets sick with dust cough, as the air scrubbers cannot filter out the smaller particles of dust. Meems is the second adult who gets sick. The next morning, Sai wants to check if there are any cracks in the communications room roof that may be letting the dust in. Trey volunteers to help and is happy when Sai agrees.
Trey excitedly reports that he found a crack, although it does not lead to the vents and does not explain how the others got sick. The next morning, to the children’s dismay, none of the adults show up to the mess hall.
Chapter 17 Summary: “Please Advise”
As all the adults in the settlement have gotten sick, the roles between adults and children are reversed. The children are now in charge and, led by Flossy, take care of the older settlers. The adults are developing a fever on top of their cough, and Meems realizes that the mice have probably brought a virus with them.
Later, while Bell is staying in Sai’s room, Sai calls for someone named “Larry” and does not recognize Bell when he tries to calm him down. Bell is unsettled by the incident, and the other children are growing more and more exhausted and worried as the weeks pass.
Eventually, Vera suggests they send a message to Earth command. Flossy points out that they do not know Sai’s log-in, but Bell knows that the password, “My_Larry” (147), is written on a piece of paper next to the communications board, or “digi-slate.” While they wait for the reply, Bell goes through the previous exchanges between Sai and Earth command and realizes that they are so far away and isolated that Earth command will not be able to do much.
After Chapter 17, a Secure Communication transcript sent by Earth explains that the adults have probably caught the Yermo virus and that the children are immunized against it. They ask that all mice be exterminated and inform the settlers that medication will arrive by supply ship in eight months.
Chapter 18 Summary: “Exterminate”
The children are distraught to learn that they will need to wait eight months for the treatments they need. They are also devastated by the news that they need to kill Muffin; they decide to leave his habitat on the surface of Mars to let him fall asleep naturally.
Afterward, they discuss their options in the mess hall. Vera suggests they reach out to another settlement. Albie argues against Flossy leaving the base, since she is most capable of running it. Trey volunteers to go and Bell, who notices that Trey seems anxious, says he will go as well because one of the main rules at the settlement is “Do not go outside without a buddy” (16, 153).
Chapter 19 Summary: “Vanished”
Although they are slightly anxious, Bell and Trey board the train and drive it to the Finnish settlement. No one answers when they knock on the door of their platform; they enter the settlement and find it empty. Searching through the place, they are fascinated by what they find: colorful furniture, strange candy, a cat-themed child’s bedroom, but not one person. Bell and Trey wonder whether the Finns could have been abducted by aliens, and eventually decide to get back on the train and drive it to the next settlement. On their way there, the train suddenly loses power and stops in the middle of the tunnel.
Chapter 20 Summary: “Trapped”
Trey and Bell, who feels like he is reliving their rover adventure, look for a way to get out of the train. They soon realize that they cannot open the cargo door or break the window, and that they are stuck inside. They set out to wait for someone to rescue them and spend the next few hours talking.
When Bell asks Trey why they are not such close friends anymore, Trey confesses that he switched rooms to appear more mature so Sai would choose him as his apprentice. He apologizes to Bell for neglecting him and letting him think he did something wrong. Eventually, they fall asleep and Bell dreams about Phinneus, who gives him his old sweater because the wind is picking up.
Bell wakes up feeling a draft and realizes that the air is coming from a small panel on the floor. He and Trey open it, but realize that only Bell is small enough to fit through.
Chapter 21 Summary: “Darkness”
Bell volunteers to go on his own so he can get help for Trey and their friends back at the settlement. He starts walking down the dark tunnel and confronts his fears about being alone and facing potential enemies. At one point, he almost turns back, but remembers that his friends need help and keeps going for them. Eventually, he notices the same two glowing eyes he spotted once before and gets scared that an alien is here to attack him, but the supposed alien starts meowing.
Chapters 15-21 Analysis
These chapters mark a turning point for key narrative elements and character development, building up to the story’s climax, where the story’s conflict reaches its most intense point and is resolved. Most significantly, the adults get infected with a virus that was brought to their settlement by stowaway mice. Roles are reversed and the children’s strength is tested, leading to significant character growth. Flossy’s organizational skills enable her to assume a leadership role, whereas Albie’s vulnerability is revealed when he crumbles under pressure. For the first time, Bell realizes that internal, invisible threats can be just as dangerous as outside forces. His fear of others is turning into fear for his loved ones, which highlights The Driving Power of Fear and indicates his shifting mindset.
The novel values compassion, evidenced when Bell volunteers to go into the tunnel with Trey, who is scared of going on his own. Bell disguises his concern for his friend under the pretense of following the rules: “‘Do not go outside without a buddy,’ I said. ‘It’s a rule, right?’ Trey’s eyes flashed with something—relief?—and he grinned. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘It’s a rule’” (153). This interaction echoes the beginning of the story, when Trey convinces the others to go back home after Bell expresses anxiety about leaving the settlement in a stolen rover. Bell later comments on this reversal of roles when he leaves Trey alone on the train—“instead of his doing everything for me, like when I was little, it was my turn to do something for him. I had to be our voice now and get help” (172).
Bell and Trey’s situation in the tunnel directly parallels the rover accident at the beginning of the book, as Bell humorously points out: “I couldn’t believe it. We were trapped in a vehicle. Again. At least I hadn’t broken anything this time” (162). However, this incident illustrates Trey and Bell’s significant growth. Instead of waiting for rescue this time, they act and rescue themselves. Bell, who was scared of meeting French people earlier in the book, is now driven by his concern for his friends. Fear motivates him to act, and illustrates Bell’s understanding of The Importance of Community and its role in survival.
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By Jennifer L. Holm
