Is this just the same book but with the swear words deleted?

Mostly, yes, but it also includes a Q&A with Andy Weir and classroom-specific materials like discussion questions that focus on the science and ethics of the mission.

Can a 5th grader handle the technical science parts?

They might not follow the exact math of the orbital mechanics, but the story is clear enough that they'll understand the intent. It's a great 'stretch' book for advanced 10-year-old readers.

Is the movie better than the book?

The movie is great, but it cuts about 70% of the actual problem-solving. If your kid liked the movie, the book is like the 'director's cut' that explains how he actually did everything.

Is that self-surgery scene really that bad?

It's clinical. He describes the wound and the process of cleaning it. It's less 'horror movie' and more 'emergency room.' Most kids who play modern video games won't blink.

The Martian: Classroom Edition – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Martian: Classroom Edition

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2017

94%

WISE Score

Robinson Crusoe on Mars, but with way more math and significantly fewer F-bombs.

The Martian: Classroom Edition

book

2017

94%

WISE Score

Robinson Crusoe on Mars, but with way more math and significantly fewer F-bombs.

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Screenwise Verdict

The Martian: Classroom Edition is the gold standard for 'competence porn'—the deeply satisfying experience of watching someone who is very good at their job solve impossible problems. It’s one of the few books that can make a kid actually care about the difference between hydrazine and hydrogen while keeping them on the edge of their seat.

By stripping out the pervasive swearing of the original, this edition clears the path for the science and the story to take center stage. It’s a must-read for any kid into STEM, but even the 'I hate math' crowd will likely get sucked into the sheer drama of Watney’s Martian MacGyvering.

Age Fit

Best for ages 11 and up. It’s sophisticated enough for adults but the 'Classroom Edition' makes it accessible for middle schoolers who are ready for real-world stakes.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It’s a story about the entire planet coming together to save one person, anchored by a protagonist who uses humor and grit instead of cynicism to survive impossible odds.

Imaginative

It forces the reader to visualize the mechanics of Martian survival, from pressurized habitats to the chemistry of making water from rocket fuel.

Safe

This specific edition scrubs the heavy profanity of the original. While there is high-stakes peril and one self-surgery scene, it’s grounded and clinical rather than gratuitous.

Enriching

It is essentially a 400-page advertisement for the scientific method. It turns complex physics, botany, and engineering into a gripping thriller.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The scientific method is the actual hero here, making math and physics feel like high-stakes survival tools rather than boring homework.
Resilience and humor are modeled perfectly by Mark Watney, who treats every near-death explosion as a puzzle to be solved.
Classroom-friendly language means you get the full intensity of the original story without the 'R-rated' vocabulary of the trade paperback.
Bonus materials including a Q&A with Andy Weir and discussion questions make it a great pick for a family book club or a kid who wants to go deeper.

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What to Watch For

There is a fairly descriptive self-surgery scene early on where Watney has to remove a piece of antenna from his abdomen and staple the wound shut.
The tension is relentless. If your kid gets genuine anxiety from 'everything that can go wrong does go wrong' scenarios, this might be a stressful read.

Conversation Starters

"If you were stranded on Mars, which of your current school subjects would actually keep you alive?"
"Watney says he has to 'science the sh*t out of this' (or 'science his way out' in this version). What does that actually mean in practice?"
"Why do you think the whole world spent billions of dollars and worked together just to save one guy?"
"Which was more important to Watney's survival: his engineering skills or his sense of humor?"

Deep Dive

The 'Classroom' Difference

If you read the original 2011 release of The Martian, you know it famously begins with a very loud F-bomb. Andy Weir wrote it for a technical audience, and the dialogue reflected the salty language of stressed-out engineers. The Classroom Edition isn't just a 'clean' version; it's a thoughtful pivot. It keeps the snark and the tension but swaps out the profanity for more creative (and school-appropriate) insults.

Why It Works for Modern Kids

In a world of 'chosen one' narratives where kids have magical powers they didn't earn, Mark Watney is a breath of fresh air. He isn't special because of a prophecy; he's special because he paid attention in botany class and knows how to use a hex wrench. This is a powerful message for kids: your brain is a survival tool.

A Note on Audiobooks

Since literacy is multi-stranded, don't sleep on the audiobook version. While the Classroom Edition text is great for eyes-on-page decoding, listening to Watney’s logs can be a game-changer for kids who struggle with the technical density of the text. It allows them to absorb the complex vocabulary and narrative structure while keeping the pacing fast. Just be sure you're getting the version that aligns with the classroom text if you're sensitive to the original's language.

The grown-up original: This is the official young readers adaptation of The Martian by Andy Weir — Andy Weir's own retelling, at a length and reading level a middle-schooler can finish. When they close this one and want more, the original is the natural next step.

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