Homestead
A New Life on Mars
by A. L. Collins
Capstone 2017
Great fit for 4th grade
Reading level and content both target 4th–8th grade · ages 9–14
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Genre
Themes
- adjusting to a new home
- friendship across cultures
- family and belonging
- resilience
- pioneering and homesteading
- technology and humanity
- community
- self-discovery
About this book
Belle Song has been uprooted from Earth to a remote family farm on Mars, where the red dust, strange neighbors, and lonely days make home feel very far away. With help from her android companion and a new school filled with human and alien classmates, Belle searches for her place on the frontier. This accessible sci‑fi adventure explores big feelings about moving, fitting in, and starting over. Perfect for middle‑grade readers who like space settings, relatable characters, and hopeful, fast‑paced stories.
Setting: a near-future Mars colony and remote family homestead
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Homestead right for my child?
Yes — Homestead is a great fit for 4th grade. The reading level is AR 4.5, which is typical for 4th grade. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 9–14 (4th–8th grade). Themes include adjusting to a new home, friendship across cultures, family and belonging.
How long does it take to read Homestead?
At a typical 4th grade reading pace, Homestead takes around 2.5h to finish. The book has 22,000 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does Homestead have an AR quiz?
Yes — Homestead has an AR quiz available, worth 3 points. Your child will need to take and pass the quiz through their school's Accelerated Reader program to earn credit. The quiz is typically 5–20 multiple choice questions about plot, characters, and setting.
What grade level is Homestead?
Homestead has an AR reading level of 4.5, which places it at a 4th grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8) — this reflects the age-appropriateness of the content and themes, not just the reading difficulty. A strong younger reader may handle the words fine while the themes are aimed at an older audience, or vice versa.