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brogan7's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.25
My son and I quite enjoyed this book together. Peter Lee, aged 11, has an an interest in dinosaurs and paleontology and one summer his family decide to take a road trip to Drumheller, Alberta to take him to the dinosaur museum and a special hands-on activity there.
When Peter gets there, the event is not as he had expected and it shakes his confidence to the core, making him question his interest in paleontology altogether.
Add in to the mix a grandmother developing dementia, some interpersonal conflicts with peers, and the story rounds out to quite a year in Peter's life.
I was troubled by the extent of Peter's distress and that he never worked it out with anyone....he is extremely hard on himself and while relatable, it also felt like the writer didn't send him a life buoy when he needed it.
Also I felt the story went on for a bit too long, even though in the end, the pieces eventually came together (I thought there was far too much about the unpleasant boy in Peter's class).
Overall, a great read.
When Peter gets there, the event is not as he had expected and it shakes his confidence to the core, making him question his interest in paleontology altogether.
Add in to the mix a grandmother developing dementia, some interpersonal conflicts with peers, and the story rounds out to quite a year in Peter's life.
I was troubled by the extent of Peter's distress and that he never worked it out with anyone....he is extremely hard on himself and while relatable, it also felt like the writer didn't send him a life buoy when he needed it.
Also I felt the story went on for a bit too long, even though in the end, the pieces eventually came together (I thought there was far too much about the unpleasant boy in Peter's class).
Overall, a great read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia and Bullying
Minor: Medical content
mldavisreads's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Middle grade contemporary realistic fiction. Peter Lee lives with his parents, his younger sister L.B., and has his grandparents Hammy and Haji nearby. He has dreamed of being a paleontologist, long past the age where most kids outgrow their dinosaur phase. He practices digs in his grandparent's yard, knows countless facts, and has multiple pairs of dinosaur underwear. So when his sister finds out about a camp for kids that lets participants go on a real dig, Peter is beyond excited. The whole family (including the grandparents) sets out across Canada to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. On the trip, it becomes increasingly clear that his grandmother Hammy is not well. Once they return, Peter and L.B. are determined to find out the truth about what's wrong with Hammy and how they can help.
This book had a lot of interesting observations on being Korean in Canada. It also had a wonderful example of a three-generation family. While Hammy and Haji had their own house, it was very clear that they were a big part of everyday life for Peter and his family. As Hammy's condition grew clear, it was wonderful to see how the family pulled together to help. Seeing Peter's dreams confront with reality was a bit painful, but handled carefully. This book ended up being much deeper and much less about dinosaurs than I had anticipated.
This book had a lot of interesting observations on being Korean in Canada. It also had a wonderful example of a three-generation family. While Hammy and Haji had their own house, it was very clear that they were a big part of everyday life for Peter and his family. As Hammy's condition grew clear, it was wonderful to see how the family pulled together to help. Seeing Peter's dreams confront with reality was a bit painful, but handled carefully. This book ended up being much deeper and much less about dinosaurs than I had anticipated.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia
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