Every Hidden Thing

by Kenneth Oppel

Somewhere in the Badlands, embedded deep in rock and sand, lies the skeleton of a massive dinosaur, larger than anything the world has ever seen. To seventeen-year-old Samuel Bolt - just kicked out of school - it's the 'Rex', the king dinosaur that could put him and his archaeologist father in the history books, if they can just dig it out. But Samuel and his father aren't the only ones after the Rex.

For Rachel Cartland this find could be her ticket to a different life, one where she can explore her loves of science and adventure. But if she can't prove herself to her father on this expedition, the only adventures she'll have to look forward to are marriage or spinsterhood.

As their paths cross and the rivalry between their fathers becomes more intense, Samuel and Rachel are pushed closer together. And with both after the same prize, their budding romance seems destined to fail.

But as danger looms on the other side of the hills, Samuel and Rachel are forced to make a decision. Can they find the skeleton - and with it a new life together - or will the rivalry tear them apart?

• ISBN10: 1910989584
• ISBN13: 9781910989586
• Publish Date: 1 February 2018 (first published 11 October 2016)
• Publish Status: Transferred
• Out of Print: 3 August 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: David Fickling Books
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 362
• Language: English

Reviews

[Stephanie]

3.5? Maybe 4? It was a fairly quick read, and I did enjoy it, but there was something just not working for me (especially toward the end) and I just cannot put my finger on it. However, all the dino talk was A+++ and it warmed my fossilized, Jurassic-Park-loving heart.

[Chelsea]

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

What I Loved:

I think to really enjoy this book you have to just go with what is happening. There was a lot to pick apart but I decided to ignore all the little things and just enjoy myself. It really was a good book though, I know I'm making it seem like it wasn't. It was something fun and interesting to read. I especially appreciated how unique the story was (but this author always has a unique story to tell). I can't say that I've ever read a MG/YA book about hunting for dinosaur bones. It sounds like it would be a boring topic but that author made it actually kind of fun!

The plot was easily the best part of this book. It's an adventure story so these characters really are taking you all over the place. I'm not sure if I'd compare it to Indiana Jones but the Romeo and Juliette part definitely fit. I think that maybe the plot would be more entertaining if read by a guy. There were just little parts that I could really tell that this was written by a guy and that I think a guy would find funnier. I also have 0 tolerance for what I call "guy humour" so someone who likes that kind of thing would like this more.

Let's be honest though, my rating was heavily influenced by the presence of dinosaurs. No shame here.

What I Didn't Love

I think the entertainment factor brought my star rating up because there were a few things I didn't like at some points. I found there wasn't much character development and that I couldn't related much to either main character. Rachel was kind of hard to relate to because she was social awkward I guess you could say. She was super smart but it was like being smart took away a chunk of her personality. Samuel wasn't too bad, he was the typical teenage guy who didn't really have a clue what was happening most of the time. I get that it's a different time period but the characters fell flat for me.

I also thought the very brief sex scene was pretty weird. I'm not sure what was going on there. It felt kind of rushed and just strange which I guess makes sense but it just didn't feel fun like the rest of the story was.

Who I'd Recommend To:

I would recommend this to younger YA boys specifically. I think they'd like this the most. BUT that's not saying girls wouldn't like it too! If you love some quirky characters and a fun dinosaur hunting adventure then pick this book up for sure!

I liked this book, not as much as I should have given the Romeo and Juliet meets Indiana Jones pitch, but I liked it. And while the comparisons were technically accurate (the children of rival fossil hunting families fall in love), it lacked the promised sweeping romance and exhilarating adventure. There was romance and adventure, just in a more tepid form.

That being said, the writing is very good, with just enough period accurate phrasing and detail to sell the 19th century setting. I also liked that the characters--for the most part--acted and thought in the way people from that time would (I despise reading modern sensibilities in historical books). Sam and Rachel were both strong, distinct characters. I never found myself in a rush to get back to the other's POV while reading--both had compelling narratives.

Another highlight were the dinosaurs. I loved how the discoveries and conversations about paleontology were woven throughout the narrative without out bogging the story down. Everything from how they named the newly discovered dinosaurs to the methods for distinguishing bone from wood or rock.

Really, what's keeping me from giving this book a higher rating is the story itself. Despite discovering dinosaurs, forbidden romance, and various dangers on the dig, the story was slow. Pleasant, interesting in places, and informative, but slow. My heart rate never escalated and I never rushed to turn the pages. In fact, it took me four days to finish what I'd normally read in one sitting. Again, not because it was bad, just not as consuming as a book about discovering dinosaurs, forbidden romance, and a dangerous dig should be.