I never read any of the Heinlein juveniles when I was growing up (that I recall, anyway). And not many Heinlein books are available as e-books. But this one was, so I plunged in with relish. I wasn't disappointed, because it was exactly what I had always heard RAH's juvenile works described as.
This book was first published in 1949 and is set in some unnamed year in the future. What I found intriguing and jarring was not the overcome-by-time science (intelligent Martians, canals filled with ice, enough air pressure to forgo pressure suits) but rather the communications and entertainment technology that was still stuck in the 40s. Colonists have to wait for Deimos to be in the sky to relay radio signals, because there are no communication satellites. (I guess Arthur Clarke hadn't predicted them yet.) Phones are attached to buildings. The teenagers don't carry their music with them. All of these changes are relatively recent, and yet are so fundamental to how we live today that RAH's future world seems positively primitive.
But that's part of the fun of reading old SF: both seeing what was predicted that didn't come true and seeing what did come true that was completely unforeseen. I can simultaneously satisfy the hungry-for-wonder child within meand the somewhat cynical adult I have (somewhat regretfully) become. ( )

On Mars, members of Earth’s South Colony prepare to migrate north before winter arrives. It is also the beginning of a new school year at the academy on Syrtis Minor, near the North Colony. Returning to the school are best friends Jim Marlowe, Frank Sutton, and Jim’s pet, Willis. The latter is a round, furry Martian creature with the uncanny ability to remember everything it hears and repeat it with perfect accuracy.

This talent comes in handy when Jim, Frank, and Willis arrive at the academy and find themselves subject to the draconian rules and regulations of the new headmaster who confiscates Willis and locks the Martian in his office. While there, Willis overhears a conversation between the headmaster and the colony’s leader, Harold Beecher. After he is liberated by Jim and Frank, Willis recites all that he heard, including a plot to prevent the colonists in the south from migrating, thereby assuring that many will not survive the winter. With the headmaster monitoring all communications to and from the academy, there is no way to send a warning.

Can Jim and Frank break out of the school with Willis and survive the journey back to the South Colony on their own?

Published in 1949, Red Planet is the third in Heinlein’s juvenile novel collection (what might be called young adult in today’s vernacular). It’s a delightful romp with an imaginative take on indigenous Martians and their world’s landscape. I couldn’t help but think of Percival Lowell upon reading about the canals that our heroes traversed during their journey home. ( )

Boring and sexist. The punch line is: it's just too complicated for us to know! I could have known that without the 7 hours I spent reading this. ( )

Ex-lib. AADL ( )

I have a lot of love for this book and especially this audio production. This full-cast audio version has a different voice actor for each of the characters which makes it very much like a radio play instead of a narrated book.

This is one of Heinlein's classic juveniles. Because of that, the science is dated as well as the attitudes expressed in the book, especially in the views towards women. Since this is from 1949, women are viewed as to be protected by the men and work in the home. If one looks past this it's a quite entertaining adventure story about 2 boys and a "bouncer" (a small creature indigenous to Mars) making their way across Mars, although it changes in tone around later in the book (I'm trying to avoid spoilers). The only dull part is when the boys are at school, but it's necessary to set up the plot for the rest of the book. Thankfully, it's not too long.

Overall, this is one of my favourite Heinlein novels. If one can get past the dated nature, I'd recommend that they give it a try, especially if you can get the full-cast audio version. ( )