I read everything of Joe Haldeman's. This one is targeted at a YA audience. It's a coming of age story somewhat reminiscent of Heinlein (though for an older audience).
Backstory is the early colonization of Mars.
Backstory is the early colonization of Mars.
I really liked this book. It was easy to read from the getgo. However, I gave it 4½ stars because of some vulgar language and descriptive sex. It read kinda like Heinlein's Podkayne of Mars - a young woman's adventures in outer space, but unlike Podkayne, Carmen is traveling to Mars from Earth where she meets benevolent "martians".
Good characterization, interesting story, I didn't flip to the back to read the end, which is a very good thing for me! My husband read this, I didn't.