The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel

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(as of Jan 09, 2026 10:47:35 UTC – Details)

Based on the Peabody Award–winning podcast, this tech-filled adventure series pits intrepid Mars Patel and his outcast friends against a brilliant, enigmatic billionaire as they race to figure out why kids are disappearing from their school.

Mars Patel’s friend Aurora has disappeared! His teachers are clueless. His mom is stressed out about her jobs. But Mars refuses to give up—after all, his own dad disappeared when Mars was a toddler, before he and Ma moved to Puget Sound from India. Luckily, Mars has a group of loyal friends eager to help—smart Toothpick, strong and stylish JP, and maybe-telepathic Caddie. The clues seem to point toward eccentric tech genius (and Mars’s hero) Oliver Pruitt, whose popular podcast now seems to be commenting on their quest! But when the friends investigate Pruitt’s mysterious, elite school, nothing is as it seems—and anyone could be deceiving them. Slick science, corporate conspiracies, and an endearingly nerdy protagonist make this first book in the series a fresh, exciting sci-fi adventure.

From the Publisher

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Walker Books US
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 13, 2021
Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 153621910X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1536219104
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 – 12 years
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.82 x 8.25 inches
Part of series ‏ : ‎ Mars Patel
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 – 7
Best Sellers Rank: #170,752 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #695 in Children’s Science Fiction Books (Books) #977 in Children’s Mystery, Detective, & Spy #2,728 in Children’s Friendship Books
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