Scan barcode
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Historical fossil hunt and warring families' young lovers bond over dinosaurs
4.5 stars
A rather different genre for young adults - palaeontology. Two sets of dinosaur hunters, the Quaker Bolts (father and son) and the Cartlands (father and daughter) both end up in the Badlands looking to discover new species and gather for themselves fame, fortune and respect.
Samuel Bolt falls for Rachel Cartland the first time they meet, but their fathers are bitter enemies of old and want their children to spy on each other to preserve a headstart in their work.
As is often the case, forbidden love is the most tempting kind, and Sam and Rachel, while both desperately fixated on their digging work, do find themselves unable to keep away from each other.
With dangers from the Sioux and other native tribes nearby, snakes and ravines - who will find the famed Black Beauty dinosaur skeleton first?
A refreshing concept for a book, I enjoyed the feminist angle on the story, with Rachel a keen academic held back by the customs of the time. She and Sam are appealing both as a couple and as individual driven to prove themselves to parents equally obsessed, and to achieve something in their own rights.
There are some scenes of a sexual nature, making this best suited to older teenagers.
The historical period is well created, with wagons and provisions very Victorian, the world of the woman frustratingly limited for most.
It feels at the end as though more books may be to come, though also is complete within itself.
One to recommend to ages 14 and older.
4.5 stars
A rather different genre for young adults - palaeontology. Two sets of dinosaur hunters, the Quaker Bolts (father and son) and the Cartlands (father and daughter) both end up in the Badlands looking to discover new species and gather for themselves fame, fortune and respect.
Samuel Bolt falls for Rachel Cartland the first time they meet, but their fathers are bitter enemies of old and want their children to spy on each other to preserve a headstart in their work.
As is often the case, forbidden love is the most tempting kind, and Sam and Rachel, while both desperately fixated on their digging work, do find themselves unable to keep away from each other.
With dangers from the Sioux and other native tribes nearby, snakes and ravines - who will find the famed Black Beauty dinosaur skeleton first?
A refreshing concept for a book, I enjoyed the feminist angle on the story, with Rachel a keen academic held back by the customs of the time. She and Sam are appealing both as a couple and as individual driven to prove themselves to parents equally obsessed, and to achieve something in their own rights.
There are some scenes of a sexual nature, making this best suited to older teenagers.
The historical period is well created, with wagons and provisions very Victorian, the world of the woman frustratingly limited for most.
It feels at the end as though more books may be to come, though also is complete within itself.
One to recommend to ages 14 and older.
alli_oopsie's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
hayleybeale's review against another edition
4.0
Every Hidden Thing is an engrossing and fast-moving historical YA adventure, set in the time of the “Bone Wars” aka the “Great Dinosaur Rush” of the late 19th century, when rival paleontologists raced to dig up fossils in the West, newly opened by the transcontinental railroad. The two teen narrators are the children of rival paleontologists and, guess what, they fall in love! See my full review here.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for the digital review copy.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for the digital review copy.
beccadavies's review against another edition
2.0
I feel so bad as this was going well for me BUT I just couldn't finish it. I don't blame the book, really. I happen to get sick in the middle of reading it and once I felt better I had already picked something else up and lost interest. Maybe one day I'll go back to it!
amym84's review against another edition
4.0
Buried deep in the Badlands there's a legend of a creature known as Black Beauty with bones black as ebony. When Samuel Bolt's father is sent a tooth and asked to come prospect, Samuel immediately calls it his "rex" and is determined to be the one to find it.
The Bolts come across some competition when they run into the Cartlands who, coincidentally, received the same tip off about the bones. But as the two older men vie for the glory of their finds. Samuel and Cartland's daughter Rachel form an alliance of their own, and beyond that something more. But with tensions rising with the Sioux and other Native American tribes will they be able to find "rex" in the vastness of this undiscovered part of the country? Or will "rex" be lost to a thing of legends?
When I first heard about this book months ago, I knew I wanted to read it. What I didn't really account for was how much I would enjoy this book, honestly. I don't know how long it's been that I've read a book so devoted to dinosaurs, but Every Hidden Thing immediately brought me back to when I was younger and in grade school and, you know, everyone goes through the unit on dinosaurs and it's not just a boy thing or just a girl thing, I believe dinosaurs in general are interesting to all kids, and let's be honest adults too, but there's almost something magical about learning of these creatures that used to walk around our planet.
Each time the characters would uncover bones / fossils, I would be as in awe of the discoveries and they were. And the whole will they / won't they find the "rex" really drove the story forward because, if anything, you want Samuel and Rachel to be the ones to find these bones.
Besides that sense of adventure, I really enjoyed the blossoming relationship between Rachel and Samuel. I loved Samuel's romantic nature as opposed to Rachel's more pragmatic sensibilities. Kenneth Oppel did a great job of making this book not only appealing to younger readers, but it is very viable as an adult read as well. Taking place in the nineteenth century, Samuel was considered a man at seventeen, and you see over the course of the book how he begins to take that role ever more seriously.
Rachel, on the other hand, wants so badly to break out of the restrictions placed on her by being a female. She wants to prospect with her father, she wants to go to university, which are things her father won't seriously consider because it wouldn't be strictly proper. Rachel decides to take matters into her own hands to ensure her future, and while Samuel starts out as a means to get her what she wants, but she can't really deny what her heart feels.
Probably the biggest comparisons I've seen for this book are Romeo & Juliet meets Indiana Jones. The former can definitely be considered accurate (what with the feuding families scenario), and while I'd say the latter is definitely true, I'd say it's a little less mysteriously adventurous than what we're used to from Indy. Probably one of the only complaints I could make about the book is that I'm not sure of the build up and payoff at the end. I'm not trying to give anything away so I'll just say that I think the ending, once all is said and done, was a bit too abrupt for my tastes.
Otherwise, Every Hidden Thing really didn't disappoint. It was an entertaining read full of wonderful imagery and settings.
The Bolts come across some competition when they run into the Cartlands who, coincidentally, received the same tip off about the bones. But as the two older men vie for the glory of their finds. Samuel and Cartland's daughter Rachel form an alliance of their own, and beyond that something more. But with tensions rising with the Sioux and other Native American tribes will they be able to find "rex" in the vastness of this undiscovered part of the country? Or will "rex" be lost to a thing of legends?
When I first heard about this book months ago, I knew I wanted to read it. What I didn't really account for was how much I would enjoy this book, honestly. I don't know how long it's been that I've read a book so devoted to dinosaurs, but Every Hidden Thing immediately brought me back to when I was younger and in grade school and, you know, everyone goes through the unit on dinosaurs and it's not just a boy thing or just a girl thing, I believe dinosaurs in general are interesting to all kids, and let's be honest adults too, but there's almost something magical about learning of these creatures that used to walk around our planet.
Each time the characters would uncover bones / fossils, I would be as in awe of the discoveries and they were. And the whole will they / won't they find the "rex" really drove the story forward because, if anything, you want Samuel and Rachel to be the ones to find these bones.
Besides that sense of adventure, I really enjoyed the blossoming relationship between Rachel and Samuel. I loved Samuel's romantic nature as opposed to Rachel's more pragmatic sensibilities. Kenneth Oppel did a great job of making this book not only appealing to younger readers, but it is very viable as an adult read as well. Taking place in the nineteenth century, Samuel was considered a man at seventeen, and you see over the course of the book how he begins to take that role ever more seriously.
Rachel, on the other hand, wants so badly to break out of the restrictions placed on her by being a female. She wants to prospect with her father, she wants to go to university, which are things her father won't seriously consider because it wouldn't be strictly proper. Rachel decides to take matters into her own hands to ensure her future, and while Samuel starts out as a means to get her what she wants, but she can't really deny what her heart feels.
Probably the biggest comparisons I've seen for this book are Romeo & Juliet meets Indiana Jones. The former can definitely be considered accurate (what with the feuding families scenario), and while I'd say the latter is definitely true, I'd say it's a little less mysteriously adventurous than what we're used to from Indy. Probably one of the only complaints I could make about the book is that I'm not sure of the build up and payoff at the end. I'm not trying to give anything away so I'll just say that I think the ending, once all is said and done, was a bit too abrupt for my tastes.
Otherwise, Every Hidden Thing really didn't disappoint. It was an entertaining read full of wonderful imagery and settings.
dclaw's review against another edition
5.0
Two young paleontologists, both with famous fathers who hate each other. Marvelous quest for “Black Beauty”, the elusive T. Rex. Sioux warriors, shady ladies, first love, dueling narrators—much to enjoy.
ohemgeebooks's review against another edition
4.0
A paleontological western that is also a romance?! I’m all in for that and this book did not disappoint. It was entertaining to geek out on my childhood desire to be a paleontologist. The Bone Wars is such a fascinating time in American History.
fallingletters's review against another edition
3.0
My dad and I discussed this book for my Family Reads series. We talk about young adult fiction and how this book fits in the 'genre'. This is a discussion and not a review, so please check it out on my blog!