You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Some of my favourite books as a child and just as wonderful as an adult. Gurney captures the energy and excitement of 19th-Century adventure novels without the shocking racism of, say, Doyle's "The Lost World," while also granting us some of the most beautiful (if now outdated) depictions of dinosaurs ever committed to canvas. I have these (both Dinotopia and The World Beneath) out in my living room and never expect to remove them. Utterly charming.
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The illustrations really carry the story - showing a man and his son discovering a beautiful utopian island where dinosaurs and humans live together as equals. It's such an improbable world but the drawings and journal entry style writing give it life and a magical sense of wonder that made me wish it really existed somewhere. I loved the diverse culture created by so many people lost at sea who washed up on the island and contributed their homeland's art, architecture, and knowledge to the Dinotopia society. It's like the island embodies the intelligence, creativity, and compassion of humanity (and, I suppose, dinosaurs).
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
A world of wonder! I love the illustrations and how well-crafted the entire culture is.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Such an imaginative and beautiful work!!
Dinotopia: A Land Apart From Time was my introduction to James Gurney's world, and I've never left. The art is awe-inspiring and the world he's created is both broad and deep. The story is simple enough for young children to enjoy, but somehow it keeps enthralling me fifteen years later.