The Heart of Pangaea

by Lindsey Kinsella, Giorgio Rizzo (Illustrator), Donna West (Editor)

Robyn has a vivid imagination, even for a twelve-year-old. Vivid enough to create herself a companion—but Ed isn’t your ordinary imaginary friend. Ed is a Dimetrodon, an ancient beast from a forgotten age.

When her mother falls ill, Robyn and Ed delve into her subconscious, to the prehistoric kingdom of Pangaea, in search of a cure. But in a world of dinosaurs, pirates, and ancient magic, can they find what they seek? Can they even save themselves from the creatures which inhabit this mysterious land?

The Heart of Pangaea brings the wonders of palaeontology to a vivid and magical fantasy setting. In this novel, the reader will dig up scientific discoveries, and be gripped by a story rich with the meaning of friendship, family, and love.

The Heart of Pangaea is now wonderfully illustrated by Katharina Holzinger.

440 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2023

Reviews

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Where I go, you go. Always. Please, I need you, Ed.”
"I'd follow you anywhere, Robyn, though mostly out of morbid curiosity."

Thank you to the author and Love Book Tours for providing a physical copy in exchange for a review!

Robyn has an imaginary friend who’s a Dimetroden - a prehistoric definitely not-dinosaur - called Ed. Ed is who narrates this book and it’s such a refreshing device and form!

After her mum is diagnosed with cancer, Robyn enters a world of her imagination - Pangaea - to find a cure.

This is so quirky with on the nose humour and dad jokes all around!
There’s an Australian marsupial called Benjamin who is just so chipper and adorable and optimistic and I want to hug him.

”Now this is the way to travel, Benjamin exclaimed. "You know, you guys could make a business out of this. You could call it Tyrannosaurus Rides, or Rex Tours... oh, I-Treks. I could be a tour guide - we could do safaris."
"Does this one ever shut up?" Gigas snapped.

Heartfelt, funny, poignant, and full of bravery and love, this book is a must read!
If you like dinosaurs, if you like adventures, if you like stories about families, overthrowing tyrants, and pirate dinos, this is for you!

I would recommend this if you enjoyed A Monster Calls.

”I think you'll find the monsters inside your own head are the most difficult to banish. The most vicious demons are always those of our own making."

Bookstagram

[Sudeshna Banerjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Heart of Pangaea is a very cute fantasy adventure that transports the reader to a world of dinosaurs, pirates, and ancient magic. It is a thrilling and cozy book which will not let you feel bored. This book is a blend of science and fantasy in a creative way. The author with their writing skills has done a great job of creating a rich and diverse world with fascinating creatures and characters. The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged.

The book also explores themes such as family, friendship, courage, loyalty, and destiny. The book is suitable for readers of all ages who enjoy adventure, magic, and dinosaurs.

I am going to rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars because of all the excitement, and emotion it brings out. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy stories with a touch of palaeontology. The Heart of Pangaea is a book that will make you laugh, cry, and wonder at the wonders of life.

[DiegoYYC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minor spoilers ahead.

Not gonna lie. I’m biased about dinosaurs since I was a kid. Watching Jurassic Park in the movie theatre was one of the happiest days of my life (Yes the original one. Yes, I’m that old). So picking this book was an easy choice. Made even easier by the fact that I read The Lazarus Taxa by the same author last year (the two novels are not related), so I already knew that I was getting quality content.

I was looking for a casual, easy read to kill a few hours at night and unwind. Boy, was I wrong. From the start, the story gives you an emotional punch that I wasn’t prepared for. We might be giving the authors too much power, especially those who know how to arrange a few words in a way that they pull on the strings of your heart. Maybe somebody should keep them in check. I came to find in the book the very thing I was trying to flee from real life, but presented in a beautiful and relatable way.

The book doesn’t give a fair chance to the reader to back up. As a kid that grew up on comic strips of a boy and his imaginary tiger, I couldn’t be happier to find out that the book is narrated from the POV of Ed the Dimetrodon (another gut punch directly in the nostalgia), the imaginary friend of Robyn, the human girl around whom the story revolves. Ed and Robyn have great chemistry on the page and complement each other in all the right ways.

Their adventure into Pangea starts not long into the book, and opens the story into a magical world inhabited by a great cast of supporting characters. Now, if you have read this author before, you know that one of his strengths is the wealth of knowledge he has about not only dinosaurs but also all other sort of prehistoric fauna. So the types and races of the characters that our heroes find along the way you won’t find anywhere else. My favourite one has to be the giant sloth. But don’t worry, you still also get your raptor and t-Rex dose. The author even weaves a compelling political plot between reptiles and mammals, without taking from the main “hero’s journey” theme of the book.

I am used to see dinosaurs on a sci-fi setting, so I didn’t know they could work this good into a fantasy world. I loved all the story subplots, finding some surprising familiar tropes like pirates adding excitement to the quest. The stakes alway remain high during the story both in Pangea and in Robyn’s “real” world, so the tension makes you continue turning the pages. Advancing the story on both worlds through the book is not an easy feature, and the author really excelled at this. I also love when a book takes me to different, amazing settings (words are cheap, so why not?), which this book does.

There is also a bunch of little quirks that I adore in the stories and that I’m glad the author took the time to include, such as the malapropisms as part of Ed’s personality (think sentences like “this isn’t rocket surgery” or “we’ll burn that bridge when we get to it”), or having the climax and “ending” about 100 pages before the end of the book (more unchecked manipulation from the author’s side). I think they all enriched even further the story.

I don’t know if the book has a “happy ending” because “happiness” is such a subjective word. I’d say I am happy to have entered this word for a few weeks, keeping with me all the sweet memories as well as the sour/sweet ones. Definitely one of those stories that stay with you.

The mix of real life with a fantasy setting and an emotional backdrop will appeal to people that liked the movie IF (Ryan Reynolds and the big, fuzzy purple muppet) or The Never Ending Story (thankfully the book has no Artax-stuck-in-the-mud generational trauma).

I look forward to whatever the author may be cooking next. Well done.

Disclaimer: I’m not associated with the author, and this review was not part of any agreements in exchange for a copy of the book or anything like that. Just a very satisfied, returning client, letting people know about great stories written in a great way.

[Siobhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction

I was given a physical copy to review as part of a book tour for @ lovebookstours. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #BookTourReview #LindseyKinsella #TheHeartofPangaea #Childrenfiction #Fantasy #ad @lindseykinsellaauthor #Ad  #LBTCrew #Bookstagram 

 

Review

The Heart of Pangaea is equally heart-warming and heart-wrenching with perfect amounts of each. The focus is Robyn and her imaginary friend Ed, but Ed isn’t a normal imaginary friend he is a Dimetrodon – an ancient beast who is not a dinosaur! In fact Ed is our wonderful and often snarky narrator of the novel. Let me tell you this was not only refreshing but created some adorable and funny moments of interactions.

 

When the twelve-year-old Robyn’s mother has fallen ill with cancer Robyn and Ed are determined to find a cure, delving into Robyn’s subconscious they find themselves in the prehistoric kingdom of Pangaea in search of a cure. But the world is not easy to navigate or safe, they will meet prehistorical animals and dinosaurs, magic and even pirates. Will they even be able to survive this land let alone find a cure in time? Well you will have to read to find out!

 

As always I don’t spoil the plot if I can help it, so while I can’t go as in depth as I would like to I will go as far as I can without major spoilers. I also want to say I grew up loving dinosaurs, my first introduction was the Land Before Time series, then Jurassic Park and Dinotopia. Of course those are fictionalised versions but they started a love for these prehistoric lizards and mammals which still continues today. If you loved those or love dinosaurs you will love this.

 

The story is imaginative and vivid with historically accurate (as far as we can tell) dinosaurs and animals making an appearance throughout. We have numerous supporting characters who are all memorable and I became attached to, particularly Benjamin, Jinx and of course Ed. Kinsella gives all these characters personality, hopes, dreams and fears. While dealing with some darker subjects and remembering Robyn is only twelve I did find she had a bit of an ‘Alice Syndrome’ as I like to call it. While it is her subconscious she does at times come across as annoying, reactionary and rude – however when you remember her age and what she faces it does make sense. It is was more of personal thing for me since sometimes she appears mature for the age but then she reverts to being reactionary, especially at one point (no spoilers) and I just found it frustrating. Thankfully it was sorted in the end.

 

Despite this everything about this book was amazing, even the sad and touching parts. I have to say the ending was worth the bit of heart-ache in the middle. If you love palaeontology or loved Land Before Time and Dinotopia this one is one you will enjoy no matter your age. Thank you once again to the author and love book tours.


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[E.G. Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

While not as intense as some people’s interest, I do have a fondness for dinosaurs (and related creatures). Rarely, though, do I get a chance to read a book involving dinosaurs. (For some reason, they’re not the most popular thing to put in a fantasy novel, though they are very cool.) So when I got a chance to read The Heart of Pangaea by Lindsey Kinsella, I jumped on it. Because dinosaurs.

1. Thoughts on the plot
This book follows Robyn and her dimetrodon “imaginary” friend, Ed. They are dealing with Robyn’s mum being sick, and in the wake of some terrible news, they attempt to find a cure. Where? The world of Pangaea, which Robyn has populated with dinosaurs (and other, related creatures0 from all ages. Once in Pangaea, Robyn is told of a cure called the Heart of Pangaea, but there are treacherous forces out there trying to steal the Heart and use it for their own gain. Robyn must get it back, even if that means befriending pirates and mammals and launching an attack on a moving fortress.
I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. Normally, middle grade books are, to me, a bit heavy on life lessons and a bit lacking on plot and character. This book was not like that at all. I really appreciated the twists and turns and all the difficulties that Robyn had to deal with. I liked the “false” ending and then the real ending. I think that was really well done. And I definitely think that this plot was one of the more inventive I’ve seen in a middle grade (or even YA) book for a while.

2. Thoughts on the characters
This book is narrated in first person limited perspective by Ed, the dimetrodon. There were occasional snippets of third person limited when it was necessary to see a different POV, but most of the book was narrated by Ed. And, frankly, I really liked that. Robyn was obviously the hero of the book, so to have the book narrated by her “imaginary” friend was a great touch. It gave us perspective into Robyn’s thoughts without actually seeing the story from her point of view.
As for the other characters, I really like the different personalities and people that we meet in this book. I think the variety is exceptionally well done, and I liked them all. Even the villains.

3. Favourite part
I think I really like the raid on the giant sauropod. That was so inventive and well done.

4. Critique
I will say, that, although I really liked it, the “false” ending and the subsequent “true” ending came on a bit quick. Robyn’s change of heart was definitely perfect for the plot, but it felt the teensiest bit like a plot device rather than a character choice. I think it worked out great in the end, and I really like how the story turned out, but I think a little more introspection would have been great.

Overall, I would say that The Heart of Pangaea was an extremely enjoyable book. I liked it a lot and I heartily hope that there are more in the series. An excellent book.

[Amorina Carlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved "Land Before Time" as a child, and let's be honest, who didn't, this is a gorgeous, atmospheric, nostalgic read. But like so many children's books, it also features a strong, underlying note of tragedy and sadness.

This book was both incredibly sad and amazingly funny. I was absolutely delighted by the humor throughout this book. And that humor was a necessary juxtaposition against the overwhelming grief and sadness this poor girl was facing at the loss of her mother. I don’t usually do spoilers, but it’s a big plot point that you get early on – that her mother is facing a terminal illness – and Robin will do anything she can to help. The author has built a beautiful, complex world that many children – and adults – will delight in exploring. Anyone who loves dinosaurs, or who has at any point in their life, will enjoy exploring this land filled with the creatures.

But like any fantasy novel, there is also darkness tucked within the pages. This novel teaches a great deal about dinosaurs, science, and history, but it also teaches us a great deal about human nature, disguised as dinosaur nature. There is an exploration of how we treat those that are different than ourselves, including a clear discussion of propaganda and stereotypes, which is a huge topic to explore in a children’s books. But it was done so well, it seems easy to digest for even those on the younger age of the age recommendation.

I look forward to hearing more of the author’s unique, funny, and informative voice. I wasn’t big on science as a child, but I loved reading. Books like this seem like a great way to teach children like I was about science. As a parent, I’m always excited about books like this, and he the author is definitely one I’ll keep on my radar for my daughter – who loves dinosaurs for now at least. I’m grateful to the author and Love Books Tours for including me on the tour.

The book is labeled for 10 to 18 year olds, and that seems right. I’m not sure older teens would be caught reading it, considering it “too young” for them, but parts of it both absolutely gutted and delighted me, and I’m a few (haha) years older than 18. The main character’s mother has a terminal illness, so parents will have to use their best judgement for whether this is appropriate for their own children.

Content Warnings: Violence, Parent Death, Grief, Cancer

[Brandon Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl struggles to fit in with her peers, all while struggling with her mother's battle with cancer. Luckily, she has a friendly dimetrodon named Ed to keep her company. Well, an imaginary dimetrodon, but that's not the point. The point is, life is hard and sometimes you need an imaginary dimetrodon to make it easier. But when her mother's illness takes a turn for the worse, Ed's imaginary status gets called into question, and as Robyn searches for a way to help her ailing mother, she soon discovers an entire world created by her subconscious may hold the key to a cure...

WOW. A beautifully written tale. Cute in all the right places. Sad where it needs to be sad. Interesting characters and a ridiculous amount of information concerning prehistoric animals, plants, and locations. Strangely, the expository breaks to explain some new dinosaur never felt out of place or broke me out of the story. I can also say I don't remember any noticable misspellings or editing errors. Presentation was great. Very professional.

If you are looking for a light-hearted quest into the fantastic with real world problems, this is a great book. Can't recommend it enough!

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!
I've read many fantasy books and I've read books about dinosaurs, but this was something else!
I absolutely loved the premise of this one and it really didn't disappoint.

Robyn is struggling to cope with her mum's diagnosis and delves into her subconscious to create an imaginary dinosaur friend and fantasy world to escape to.

The whole idea of this is so heartwarming and I immediately fell in love with our main character Robyn. I can't imagine how something like this would affect one so young.

I loved that Ed was an imaginary Dimeteodon. I'd have said that I had no clue what this dinosaur was....but having seen the beautiful front cover, I do recognise him and oh how cute he looks too.
I think this front cover will attract a lot of readers looking for a great Dino story, and they won't be disappointed.

The writing was beautifully descriptive and even educational, but I never felt like it was bogging me down. It all flowed nicely and I was completely immersed in this gorgeous world.

I'm certain that this will appeal to all readers, young and old. A brilliant introduction to the fantasy world for those younger readers and a gorgeous story which held my attention throughout.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for children aged 10 up to 18. Lyndsey Kinsella has written a tale that will definitely capture childrens imaginations. It did mine! Dinosaurs, time travelling, and a 12 year old with a vivid imagination who's dealing with big issues in her life. It's such a great way to grab younger readers.
I was thrown back in time with Robyn and Ed, the Dimetrodon. The research made the book so vibrant in its telling. It may seem a light book, but in another way, it is far from that. The Heart of Pangea highlights the sensitive topics that children have to deal with internationally and at any age. I enjoyed the way the author portrayed Robyn. She was a child. I just wanted to hug.
The world building was well done enough that I felt immersed in the setting. I could see a child being captivated by the storytelling, too. I loved delving into dinosaurs and time travel in this fantasy book that also had an important message for children. A great read!
Thanks to Love Book Tours and Lindsey Kinsella for the gifted book to write my honest review.

[kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't really know what to expect but when I read the BLURB j thought it sounded like an interesting premise which would make for a unique read, and, I wasn't wrong.

It is well written with a compelling and heartwarming storyline and well developed characters that I loved, especially Robyn and Ed. I am not gonna lie i spent a lot of this book jealous of Robyn, I mean I had an imaginary friend as a child who was fantastic but they were no Ed.

The book is full of rich imagery and govid descriptions abs that is just something else that makes this book so fantastic. I loved the focus on the friendship between Robyn and Ed as well family dynamics and most importantly love.

If a imaginary friend Dinosaur isn't enough to convince you to read this book there is also a prehistoric world, pirates and ancient magic as well as more dinosaurs. If that doesnt sell it to you I don't know what will.

I loved it

[The Book Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an imaginative , and educational, story all rolled into one whilst also looking at coping with what life throws at us at a young age. I cannot say much more here as I don't want to give anything away.

The story is based around Robyn and her imaginary Dimetrodon friend Ed as they enter the subconscious world that Robyn has created, through her love of dinosaurs, to try and find a cure for her mother's illness.

Right from the beginning Ed was the main character for me as he is funny and covers up for Robyn's rudeness in a variety of situations whilst also being the narrator of the story.

The knowledge you learn about dinosaurs is an incredible bonus within the story and as far as I can see it is all historically accurate.

This is a book that deals with some difficult issues in a way that is suitable for late junior early secondary children onwards and would be a useful addition to any school library or home book shelf.

[Tami Wylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was an interesting way to present how one child dealt with loss and loneliness. By using her imagination, Robyn, along with her imaginary friend Ed the dinosaur, is able to escape to an imaginary world, far away from the heartache of reality. Imagining that she is searching for a cure for her mother’s cancer, Robyn is able to make herself feel better by thinking that she can change what’s really happening. I thought this was a sensitive way to deal with something that is really a terrible event. It is very clear that the author did lots and lots of research about dinosaurs and this time in history. I think it made the book much more enjoyable, especially for children, all children, love dinosaurs! It is an imaginative concept, which really worked. I really enjoyed this book.

[James Louis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventure and Intrigue in Pangaea

The imaginary world Robyn has created may hold the key to her real-life problems.

I was expecting a cute dinosaur story in the imaginary world of a twelve year-old girl called Robyn, and got my heart taken away and returned with a new found love for prehistoric animals, especially the Dimetrodon (the story's narrator).
It's epic, it's fantasy with dinosaurs, it even has pirates (because spinosaurs make great pirates).

Each and every character is thoroughly developed, and you may find yourself liking even the less likeable ones. I can't say more without saying too much. It's so full of unexpected twists and turns, a big part of the pleasure is being surprised by this book.

If anything, read it to know what kind of doctor Boggs *really* is.
You won't regret it.

[Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a brilliant book for young readers! It is aimed at more 10-13 years old, but could be a harder read for just under that age. This book is full to the brim with imagination, perfect to match the main character. It is written with very vivid imagery, making for the perfect read for younger readers.
The characters and surroundings details are all given lots of thought, really bringing them to life. I like the pace of the book, as it moves well and keeps you attention so well. I think this is important for young readers and will really spark their imaginations.
Overall, it is a stunning book and o read snippets to my child and she loved it. I look forward to when she can enjoy the book. It is excellent.

[R.J. Southworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

In terms of worldbuilding, this book is just as imaginative as the author’s previous work, The Lazarus Taxa, taking full advantage of being able to play in an imaginary world where any prehistoric animals can exist together. The story, however, isn’t quite so engaging: for most of its length, it’s a fairly standard fantasy plot, and it’s only in the third act that it goes in a more interesting direction. I also wasn’t a fan of the repeated switching between the first-person POV of Ed the Dimetrodon and third-person chapters focussing on other characters; sticking to third-person throughout would probably have worked better, particularly since Ed’s chapters mostly focus on him narrating the action anyway rather than getting inside his head and knowing him as a character.

[Gemma Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Heart of Pangaea’ is an imaginative and heartwarming story about escaping reality and I absolutely loved it. Robyn is struggling to cope with her Mother’s illness and her subconscious may have the answers she is looking for. This whole story is beautifully written, touching and funny and I love, love, love the whole world of Pangaea and all the dinosaurs. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys unique, original fantasy stories and I think this would appeal to readers both young and old.

I received a gifted copy of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and written voluntarily.

[Paula Learmouth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robyn isn't like most twelve -year-olds. Robyn has an imaginary friend Ed, he's a Dimertrodon. Robyn's mam fall's ill with cancer. Robyn and Ed need to find a cure. With Robyn's imagination it takes them to the Kingdom of Pangaea. But not everything is easy when your in the prehistoric age, where there's magic, pirates and dinosaurs. We meet some other characters along the way. If you love dinosaurs, prehistoric creatures and magic, you'll love this book.
I remember one of my girls growing up with her imaginary friend 'Jabar' and he went everywhere with us, we even had to leave a space for him. Even now with children of her own, she still talks about 'Jabar'.

[Oldbookishwoman · Rating 4 out of 5]

12 year old Robyn has a vivid imagination. It is vivid enough to create Ed her imaginary friend who also happens to be a Dimetrodon an ancient beast from a forgotten age.
When Robyns mother is taken poorly Robyn and Ed delve into her subconscious to the prehistoric kingdom of Pangaea in search of a cure. In a world where pirates dinosaurs and ancient magic exist will they be able to find a cure whilst keeping themselves from those that inhabit this strange world.

A fantasy story containing 426 page and aimed at readers 10 years+ I would say to parents and carers use your own judgement on the childs reading ability and maturity/ understanding levels before passing on as it does contain some topics that younger readers may struggle with such as cancer,parental death and grief. This does however have humour and heart and although there are elements of risk and danger it never gets too much. The world building is both imaginative and the characters are fleshed out. You root for Robyn throughout.
A rich fantasy story that has everything, dinosaurs, pirate's, ancient magic interesting lands with family, friendship, hope and adventure. What more do you need really?

[Cristy Villemaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Heart of Pangaea was one of the most original and mesmerizing books I've read this year. It has such an incredible premise full of love, imagination, and dinosaurs. Yes, I said that right, dinosaurs and a land full of wonder, mystery, and intrigue.

Our protagonist, Robyn, is a gentle soul. She loves reading, painting, and spending time with her family. Unfortunately, Robyn's mom is ill with cancer, and Robyn starts to create a magical world that will be known as Pangaea. Not only does she create a magical world, but she also creates an imaginary friend called Ed. He is a Dimetrodon, a creature from a long forgotten age. Together, they will join forces to try and find a cure for Carol. This was such a gripping story, I absolutely wanted to jump in to the story and help Robyn and Ed in their adventure. The story had such incredible elements. It felt like reading The Wizard of Oz with a little bit of Narnia and a little bit of Jurassic Park. Absolutely recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a heart filled story.

[Sam Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Heart of Pangea is a heart warming tale told from the perspective of Ed, Robyn’s imaginary Dimetrodon friend. Ed takes you through many and adventure with Robyn and other friends along the way. It’s a wonderful way of showing a young girl struggling and trying to cope with her mother’s illness.
I think younger generations will love the story for the adventure and the dinosaurs and the pirates. And older generations will love it for the storytelling and the world building. Definitely a story for all ages!

[Lauren Flewett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the world creation in this book, I could really imagine Pangaea and its inhabitants.

I think it’s a great read for young adults but does have some triggering topics like death of a parent and cancer so that’s one to watch out for.

This book was not only fun to read but had educational elements too which didn’t detract from the story at all. Great for any young fantasy readers or dinosaur enthusiasts.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best word I can use to describe this book is, heartwarming. This is a heartfelt adventure that involves dinosaurs, family, and fantasy. I recommend this book for anyone over the age of ten since it maybe a harder read for younger children to understand. I loved how the book was mostly narrated by the main character’s imaginary friend. This book was a cute book that really made me feel a lot of emotions.

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'd follow you anywhere, Robyn, though mostly out of morbid curiosity."

Witty, adventurous, and full of laugh-out-loud moments, The Heart of Pangaea is perfect for readers who love dinosaurs (and dimetrodons, which are definitely NOT dinosaurs). I really enjoyed reading about Robyn and Ed's adventure through Pangaea. There are heartfelt moments, pulse-stopping suspense, brilliant ways of breaking the 4th wall, and just an overall good time!

"Look, I had a more intricate trial planned, but the beta readers didn't like it."

The dialogue is top-tier sarcasm and deadpan, making it an amusing book for readers of all ages. On the more meaningful side of things, Robyn's search for a cure for her mother is heartfelt and makes for many emotional conversations. In a few ways, Ed's comments about his desire to be "real" paired with the heartstring-tugging motivation, I wanted to compare The Heart of Pangaea to The Velveteen Rabbit; though obviously with dinosaurs rather than stuffed animals. It's not a great comp (and certainly a strange one), but the thought crossed my mind several times as I read.

Overall, I had a great time reading this book and will certainly keep my eye out for future works from this author. I give it 4.5 stars out of 5!

Content disclaimers: There is a bit of light cursing sprinkled throughout the book, somewhere between a high PG rating and a low PG-13. There’s not a lot of gore, considering the theme of the book, but there is some action and scary scenes where we aren’t sure who’s going to make it to the next chapter (appropriate for a middle grade audience, in my opinion). And finally, it is about dinosaurs, so you can expect evolution to be a prevalent topic, so if this bothers you, maybe pass on this one.

I received this book from the author. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.

[Greenreadsbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of dinosaurs and I loved the premise of the book. Having a Dimetrodon as an imaginary friend would be pretty cool. The dinosaur on the front cover is a cute chappie. There is definitely scope for a great story here and the ideas are good, but the writing felt a bit unpolished in places which I found distracting. Unfortunately I didn't feel drawn to the book which is a shame as I really like the idea. It has had lots of love elsewhere so maybe it's just not a good match for me. 3.5 stars