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debbiesilkserif's review against another edition
4.0
Received via Harper Collins Canada's First Look Program(#HCCFirstLook) in exchange for an completely unbiased review.
Also posted on Silk & Serif
Every Hidden Thing is another book with a summary that doesn’t really do the story justice. I was expecting a novel that was very different from the one I got. I really can’t complain that this novel’s summary led me astray because the actual book was so much better than expected!
The novel opens with an intense fight between the fathers of main characters over the correct placement of a set of vertebra (or is it actually tail bones?) on a plesiosaurs. Thus begins the very public and disruptive competition between two very different men that spills over into their children. The competition inevitably causes Rachel and Samuel to come together and bond over their life passions: dinosaurs. While searching for the T-rex the two main characters share stories develop a very real connection, all the while hiding their new found romance from their squabbling fathers.
Every Hidden Thing is a novel about growing up, independence, competition and over coming the odds. Although this is a novel about first love, it is also a deeper tale of capturing opportunities. It's about following one's heart as well as chasing one's dreams.
My general feeling about this novel in a meme.
I loved that this book featured archaeology. Seriously, the writing of novels featuring archeology with a profound and realistic story arch is so very rare. Oppel has written a novel that is not only well written and well researched, but it is enjoyable without the necessity of an out-landish plot and dramatic fire fights. Every Hidden Thing draws it’s tension and drama from the characters themselves to develop a wonderfully developed set of interpersonal and intrapersonal struggles. The foundation may be in the search for the illustrious T-rex, but this novel's intensity comes from masterfully developed characters.
My only concern during this novel was keeping tabs on which character’s head I was currently in. Unfortunately in the ARC copy of the book I found that the fonts chosen might have been too similar for me to full differentiate between characters and lead me to become confused as to whether I was in Samuel or Rachel's head. The ingenuity of head skipping on this level kept me enthralled throughout the book, keeping me hooked until the very last page regardless of how confusing the changes often proved to be.
It was Indiana Jones if he and his rival had children.
This novel will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, adventure, archeology and romance. I would definitely suggest this read for older teens or adults who enjoy YA/NA novels due to the fact the story spans several years. I would definitely suggest this to archeological adventure movie fans or fans of young adult novels with unique plots.
Also posted on Silk & Serif
Every Hidden Thing is another book with a summary that doesn’t really do the story justice. I was expecting a novel that was very different from the one I got. I really can’t complain that this novel’s summary led me astray because the actual book was so much better than expected!
The novel opens with an intense fight between the fathers of main characters over the correct placement of a set of vertebra (or is it actually tail bones?) on a plesiosaurs. Thus begins the very public and disruptive competition between two very different men that spills over into their children. The competition inevitably causes Rachel and Samuel to come together and bond over their life passions: dinosaurs. While searching for the T-rex the two main characters share stories develop a very real connection, all the while hiding their new found romance from their squabbling fathers.
Every Hidden Thing is a novel about growing up, independence, competition and over coming the odds. Although this is a novel about first love, it is also a deeper tale of capturing opportunities. It's about following one's heart as well as chasing one's dreams.
I loved that this book featured archaeology. Seriously, the writing of novels featuring archeology with a profound and realistic story arch is so very rare. Oppel has written a novel that is not only well written and well researched, but it is enjoyable without the necessity of an out-landish plot and dramatic fire fights. Every Hidden Thing draws it’s tension and drama from the characters themselves to develop a wonderfully developed set of interpersonal and intrapersonal struggles. The foundation may be in the search for the illustrious T-rex, but this novel's intensity comes from masterfully developed characters.
Every Hidden Thing is a well written piece of literature with a wonderfully unique plot. The historical adventure alone was beautifully done - regardless of the complex character interactions and adorable romance.
My only concern during this novel was keeping tabs on which character’s head I was currently in. Unfortunately in the ARC copy of the book I found that the fonts chosen might have been too similar for me to full differentiate between characters and lead me to become confused as to whether I was in Samuel or Rachel's head. The ingenuity of head skipping on this level kept me enthralled throughout the book, keeping me hooked until the very last page regardless of how confusing the changes often proved to be.
This novel will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, adventure, archeology and romance. I would definitely suggest this read for older teens or adults who enjoy YA/NA novels due to the fact the story spans several years. I would definitely suggest this to archeological adventure movie fans or fans of young adult novels with unique plots.
marlfox24's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
irfansyahril's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
jcarvajal23's review against another edition
4.0
Forbidden romance, check. Historical Old West time period, check. Dueling paleontologists, check. For me there was much to like about this book. There are some short comings, but I was so interested in the plot and the romance that I overlooked them. If the story grabs me to the point where I almost cry, then I am a fan. I finished it very quickly once I had the time to sit down and read.
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
3.0
Romeo and Juliet set among paleontology. Rachel and Samuel have each grown up motherless and with a father obsessed with discovering Dinosaur bones. The bigger the better. Rachel's father is a chair at Harvard and Sam's dad is self educated. They hate one another in a way the kids don't understand. They find themselves in the same place working with their fathers for the find if a lifetime. As their fathers compete and fight one another, Sam and Rachel are drawn to one another.
Definitely never thought of Romeo and Juliet in the old west with Quaker prospectors hunting for dinosaur bones.
Definitely never thought of Romeo and Juliet in the old west with Quaker prospectors hunting for dinosaur bones.
readwritemads's review against another edition
4.0
Finished it in 2 days. I love Oppel's writing, but the characterization in this book is especially fantastic. Definitely worth reading.
missprint_'s review
4.0
The Badlands are rich fossil country. At a time when history is being rewritten and archaeology is largely unregulated, it's easy for anyone to get into fossil hunting and make their name.
Samuel Bolt's father has no degree and no position, but he has countless fossil discoveries and publications of his findings. While Professor Bolt is reckless and heedless of consequences, he is a well-known and popular personality among the fossil collection community. Samuel learned his love of fossil hunting from his father but he is eager for a time when he can strike out on his own and make his own name in the field.
Rachel Cartland's father is a respected Ivy League professor and the head of a university archaeology department. He tolerates Rachel as an able assistant but he is slow to accept her ambitions for a university education and her own work as an archaeologist.
Cartland and Bolt are bitter rivals but when they meet, Samuel quickly finds himself drawn to Rachel in a way he hasn't felt for other girls before. Rachel, meanwhile, is immediately thrilled by the way Samuel sees her both as an attractive young woman and as an equal.
Both the Bolts and the Cartlands arrive at the Badlands in search of an elusive rex--a king dinosaur that promises to be the largest fossil ever discovered. As rivalries flare and romance blossoms, both Rachel and Samuel will have to decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in pursuit of this once-in-a-lifetime discovery in Every Hidden Thing (2016) by Kenneth Oppel.
Every Hidden Thing is a fascinating standalone historical fiction novel.
While the time period is never stated explicitly, Oppel does an admirable job of setting the scene of the early 1900s when fossil hunting and archaeology gained momentum (and respectability) in the US.
Inspired a real rivalry (which Oppel explains in his author's note), Every Hidden Thing has been pitched as Romeo & Juliet meets Indiana Jones. While not as tragic as the former or as high action as the latter, this description is surprisingly accurate and will appeal to fans of both stories.
Written in alternating first person narration, this novel carefully builds both Samuel and Rachel's characters. By overlapping the narration at key moments, the motivations behind some of Rachel's calculating choices and Samuel's heedless actions are also carefully detailed.
Every Hidden Thing is a well-researched piece of historical fiction. Rachel and Samuel are immediately sympathetic but also remain convincingly grounded in their time as both characters grapple with limitations (Rachel's gender and for Samuel his lower class status) and the rigors of an archaeological dig. Recommended for fans of historical fiction, star-crossed lovers, and readers interested in dinosaurs and fossil hunting.
Possible Pairings: Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson, Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee, Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters, Indiana Jones (movie)
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
Samuel Bolt's father has no degree and no position, but he has countless fossil discoveries and publications of his findings. While Professor Bolt is reckless and heedless of consequences, he is a well-known and popular personality among the fossil collection community. Samuel learned his love of fossil hunting from his father but he is eager for a time when he can strike out on his own and make his own name in the field.
Rachel Cartland's father is a respected Ivy League professor and the head of a university archaeology department. He tolerates Rachel as an able assistant but he is slow to accept her ambitions for a university education and her own work as an archaeologist.
Cartland and Bolt are bitter rivals but when they meet, Samuel quickly finds himself drawn to Rachel in a way he hasn't felt for other girls before. Rachel, meanwhile, is immediately thrilled by the way Samuel sees her both as an attractive young woman and as an equal.
Both the Bolts and the Cartlands arrive at the Badlands in search of an elusive rex--a king dinosaur that promises to be the largest fossil ever discovered. As rivalries flare and romance blossoms, both Rachel and Samuel will have to decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in pursuit of this once-in-a-lifetime discovery in Every Hidden Thing (2016) by Kenneth Oppel.
Every Hidden Thing is a fascinating standalone historical fiction novel.
While the time period is never stated explicitly, Oppel does an admirable job of setting the scene of the early 1900s when fossil hunting and archaeology gained momentum (and respectability) in the US.
Inspired a real rivalry (which Oppel explains in his author's note), Every Hidden Thing has been pitched as Romeo & Juliet meets Indiana Jones. While not as tragic as the former or as high action as the latter, this description is surprisingly accurate and will appeal to fans of both stories.
Written in alternating first person narration, this novel carefully builds both Samuel and Rachel's characters. By overlapping the narration at key moments, the motivations behind some of Rachel's calculating choices and Samuel's heedless actions are also carefully detailed.
Every Hidden Thing is a well-researched piece of historical fiction. Rachel and Samuel are immediately sympathetic but also remain convincingly grounded in their time as both characters grapple with limitations (Rachel's gender and for Samuel his lower class status) and the rigors of an archaeological dig. Recommended for fans of historical fiction, star-crossed lovers, and readers interested in dinosaurs and fossil hunting.
Possible Pairings: Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson, Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee, Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters, Indiana Jones (movie)
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
eslismyjam's review against another edition
3.0
I was disappointed by this book. The historical angle is really interesting: digging for dinosaur bones in the last 1800s! Can you even think of a YA book on that? I can't. I was sold on the premise. The writing is very good and the historical accuracy is there. My problem was that the dino digging was only half the game in the story. The back specifically says "Indiana Jones meets Romeo and Juliet," and so, while the Indiana Jones adventures angle definitely worked, the forbidden romance did not. The set up was fine. The two children of rival paleontologists meet and eventually fall in love. I was on board with that story line until Rachel and Samuel really start interacting. The romance just didn't really work for me. It fell mostly flat. Rachel is a strong character. She is fighting to be seen as a real scientist and I liked that about her. However, her character just never really got into the romance aspect of her romance. It felt like Samuel was all about her and she was largely, *meh* even when she was claiming to have feelings for him. Without spoiling the story there is a lot of the romance with them together in the latter part of the book. This doesn't work. There is no real romantic tension. I would have preferred to read this book without the romance. The digging for fossils at this time, especially with the conflict between the Native Americans and the whites would have been compelling enough.