Peter Lee's Notes From the Field

by Angela Ahn, Julie Kwon (Illustrator)

Eleven-year-old Peter Lee has one goal in life: to become a paleontologist. But in one summer, that all falls apart.

Eleven year-old Peter Lee has one goal in life: to become a paleontologist. Okay, maybe two: to get his genius kid-sister, L. B., to leave him alone. But his summer falls apart when his real-life dinosaur expedition turns out to be a bust, and he watches his dreams go up in a cloud of asthma-inducing dust.

Even worse, his grandmother, Hammy, is sick, and no one will talk to Peter or L. B. about it. Perhaps his days as a scientist aren’t quite behind him yet. Armed with notebooks and pens, Peter puts his observation and experimental skills to the test to see what he can do for Hammy. If only he can get his sister to be quiet for once—he needs time to sketch out a plan.

Genres: Middle Grade, Canada, Family, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 2, 2021

About the author

Thanks for finding me! I don't check Goodreads. Please connect with me on Twitter @angelaahnbooks or Instagram @writeahn.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five paleontology skills stars for this new release from Angela Ahn! Peter is obsessed with dinosaurs and believes his future career is in paleontology. Will a junior dinosaur dig in the Alberta Badlands jumpstart his plans? He is ready with his notebook, explorer vest, dig experience in his back yard, and a wealth of dinosaur facts. He has been learning to PLAN, OBSERVE, ORGANIZE, RECORD, and EXECUTE. What to do when the execution phase is a huge disappointment? And what is wrong with Hammy, his beloved grandmother? There were so many things I loved about this book: 1) The family vacation -- so realistic. 2) L.B. is so precocious and the brother-sister relationship well done. 3) Explores the topic of dementia in a way that is approachable and a conversation starter. 4) Peter stands up to a bully. 5) The family interactions are so heartwarming and humorous at times. I laughed out loud multiple times. If you enjoyed 'Merci Suarez Changes Gears,' then this one is for you.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mid-Continent Public Library]

Five paleontology skills stars for this new release from Angela Ahn! Peter is obsessed with dinosaurs and believes his future career is in paleontology. Will a junior dinosaur dig in the Alberta Badlands jumpstart his plans? He is ready with his notebook, explorer vest, dig experience in his back yard, and a wealth of dinosaur facts. He has been learning to PLAN, OBSERVE, ORGANIZE, RECORD, and EXECUTE. What to do when the execution phase is a huge disappointment? And what is wrong with Hammy, his beloved grandmother? There were so many things I loved about this book: 1) The family vacation -- so realistic. 2) L.B. is so precocious and the brother-sister relationship well done. 3) Explores the topic of dementia in a way that is approachable and a conversation starter. 4) Peter stands up to a bully. 5) The family interactions are so heartwarming and humorous at times. I laughed out loud multiple times. If you enjoyed 'Merci Suarez Changes Gears,' then this one is for you.
*Review by Darla from Red Bridge*

[Hugh Mcdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this middle grade book set in British Columbia & Alberta. It’s about passions, generations of family, challenges of illness, & understanding more about self.

[Adriana (SaltyBadgerADii) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was super excited about this book because DINOSAURS. But it did like a sneak attack on me! It went from one boys obsession to bigger family issues. First of all, this was a pretty fast read. It only sort of touches on the topic of growing up, but it does touch on multiple issues. I actually really liked L.B.'s character. Though there were times I forgot her age, she sometimes acted younger than 8, but at the same times was a genius and sounded way older. The family dynamic was pretty fun to read about as well. I loved reading about the relationship between Hammy and L.B. it was such a sweet relationship between the two characters. I loved Haji as well! He almost like comic relief, but also what you would want in a grandparent as well. I really like how much he cared about Peter and his family. I also appreciated that we got to see glimpses of disagreements between the family, it just made it feel more real and almost like we were part of it.

It was nice to see how Peter developed throughout the book. Going from playing soccer to playing basketball, yes it's a little nuance but still nice to see how he got there. Even how he was discouraged by something but then turned it into something that was useful for Hammy. I do wish there was more about dinosaurs though just because the cover made it seem like it was going to be mostly about that. Again this book did a sneak attack, it got you to care about the entire family before you realized you were done with the book and you didn't read all that much about dinos. So a small disappointment there, but again it brought up a bigger family issue. So in the end I wasn't too disappointed about the lack of them.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Lee has one dream in life, to become a paleontologist, and this summer he will finally have a chance to experience a real dinosaur dig. But when Peter's passion is not enough to create success in the field, he finds himself adrift amid a changing landscape in his family, friendships, and his own goals.

[Ruby Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amazing and I highly recommend it. Also I think if you are in 2nd or 3rd grade and up it would be a perfect book for you to read.If you read it l hope you like it as much as I did.

[Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Lee’s Notes from the Field is a sweet, adventurous middle grade novel set in Canada. This book features a Korean-Canadian boy with asthma and a love for fossil digging. With a delightful gifted little sister, heartwarming grandparent relationships, and a dash of Korean culture, this book is perfect for lovers of family-centered stories.

Read my full review on my blog.

Thanks to the publisher for an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I was blindsighted, in a good way. To be fair to the book's marketing team, I didn't read the synopsis beforehand, I just got excited by the title and jumped in before I went on a long painful journey of Choosing the Next Book.

I thought it would be about how much this kid loves dinosaurs, and it's totally about that, but it's also about confronting the moment when you realize you can't follow a dream. And what it really means to be a member of a family. And resilience and kindness. And adaptability, and art. It's another one of those books that I keep thinking about months after I read it... let's pretend I review books late just so I can evaluate how long they stay with me after I finish (which is pretty valid for the kind of person I am).

I gave my kindle a big hug after I finished it. I hope kids who need it (and people who love a truly great story) find this book.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts out to seem to be about a boy who love dinosaurs, but then it slips in under the radar that this is a book Peter and his family possibly loosing his grandmother to dementia, and how he triess to come up with a partial solution to that.

And it all works. The story works, because that is the way that life is, that it throws things at us and we have to adjust.

I love the running theme of the grandfather saying that he notices things.

Also the running theme of the mother trying to get kids to do homework whenever they can, until they rebel.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

All his life, Peter Lee has wanted one thing--to be a paleontologist. His younger sister might be off-the-charts brilliant, but Peter knows his dinosaur stuff better than anyone; he's read all the books, done practice digs, his room is an ode to dinosaurs, and he wears dino socks and underwear. So when he gets the chance to participate in a real dig in Alberta for a day, he is off-the-charts excited. But after a long road trip with his annoying sister, his parents who expect him to do math problems in the summer, and his beloved Korean grandparents, the dig turns to disaster because Peter forgot his inhaler [though really, what parents as involved as his would not check that he had it? Not buying it]. So he decides he's done with paleontology forever. Life goes on, and he starts noticing that Hammy, his grandmother, is not the same as she used to be. He decides to use his note-taking and observational abilities to figure out what's wrong, so he can fix it.

I'm torn about this one. I really liked the characters and their personalities, particularly LB, his exuberant little sister, and Hammy and Haji, the grandparents. The parents didn't always feel consistent--I never got a really good bead on the father; he only made Peter do math problems once, though Peter made it seem as if it happened all the time, so I don't know if the author just forgot about that? There was another whole plot going on at school with a bully who had it in for Peter, for reasons that were never explained. That kind of petered out in the end (excuse the pun) with no resolution. I liked LB standing up for herself about what she needed--more of a childhood, including toys and time that wasn't "improving"--but I felt torn about her sometimes bratty behavior that the author seemed to condone. Then there was the structure of the plot. At one point, I wished the book had just started with the incident at the dig, because Peter just abandoned everything that had filled the first third of the book, so I felt as if I had wasted my time reading it. Later I realized that what he'd learned through paleontology did come in handy with Hammy's situation, but I still don't think it was major enough in the book to warrant that rambling first third. So, I liked this, didn't love it. Lots of slice-of-life situations, family drama, school drama, etc., but it felt a bit mish-mash and rambling. I did appreciate the representation of an Asian kid into something unusual.

[Sammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.

Many thanks to Tundra Books and Hear Our Voices Book Tours for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I knew I had to read Peter Lee’s story, because once upon a time, a long long time ago in a place far away, I was Peter Lee. Except Black and female, but pffft, those are minor differences. From the time I was three, I wanted to be a paleontologist! I mean, what three-year-old even knows that word? My room was everything dinosaur and I was reading ridiculously complicated dino books, just like Peter. I also happened to have asthma, also just like Peter. So yes, I knew I wanted to pick this one up!

Peter Lee’s Notes from the Field is part love note to paleontology, dinosaur geeks, and want-to-be scientists of all kinds and part touching coming-of-age story filled with heartfelt family bonds and an adorable sibling relationship.

There were things about this I didn’t love, but they were me things that had nothing to do with the book. It’s very character driven, with very little actual action, and I struggle with books like that. It’s just a genre I tend not to read, which is entirely my fault and nothing to do with the book! I think it’d be a sure win for anyone who does love contemporary middle grade.

My Thoughts:

- Peter Lee is such a relatable character, and I think middle grade readers will easily be able to see themselves in at least some aspect of his character. I’ve already said how I related to him, of course, with the paleontology and asthma, but there are so many other things. Any kid with a burning childhood passion will recognize Peter’s fervor, even if their passion isn’t for dinosaurs. What I especially love, though, is that Peter’s passion waivers when confronted with potential challenges, and he has to reconcile the reality of the profession he loves with his own desires. There are definitely times when Peter is childish, but it all feels very true to his age. I’m sure middle grade readers will be able to relate to the struggles (and anger) with bullies, the resentment of a sibling who seems to be getting more attention, and the struggles of parents who just don’t seem to understand you.

- Speaking of parents … Peter’s parents are doing their best, bless their heart, but they just don’t always see eye-to-eye with their kids. Man oh man did I relate to this part. Even as an adult, I’m still sometimes salty about not seeing eye-to-eye with my parents. Sheesh. Parents, am I right?! Peter’s parents are highly intelligent, accomplished human beings, and from their perspective, they just want to give their children all the opportunities they can. They’re trying to do right by them. Unfortunately, they don’t always go about it the right way. Like forgetting that kids need to have fun.

- Peter’s grandparents, Haji and Hammy, play a very important role in their lives, especially as a balancing force between the parents and kids. They embody a role that only grandparents seem to perform so well. While Peter’s parents push Peter and L.B. to succeed academically and intellectually, Haji and Hammy provide the much-needed balance required of just being kids. It’s something Peter’s parents seem to forget. Haji and Hammy reminded me so much of my grandparents that it hurt at times. Warning to older readers: this one might hurt your feels a bit. There were moments where Peter’s parents were just being unreasonable, like denying L.B. a stuffed animal because it wasn’t educational and it was for “little kids,” not someone as intellectually gifted as she is (despite her being young herself). Not to fear, though, Hammy to the rescue! I absolutely loved her strength and the unapologetically fierce way she loves her grandchildren.

- The most beautiful thing about this story is the way the family all pulls together to support each other. I mean, the book is fraught with family drama and conflict, the sort you might expect from any family. I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the antics, because they were so relatable and familiar! At the same time, it’s clear that the family still cares for each other, even when they’re disagreeing. As the story progresses, Peter realizes that there’s something not quite right with Hammy, as she keeps forgetting things. An older reader might immediately recognize the signs of dementia, as I did. I’m currently the caregiver for my grandfather, who has dementia, so from the moment the very first foreshadowing popped up, my heart sank, because I knew what was happening, even if Peter didn’t. This was the most emotional part for me, but it was so touching seeing the family rally together for Hammy.

- I also want to take a moment to appreciate the super cute sibling bonds in this book! It’s clear from early on that L.B. is neurodiverse, though it’s never labeled. She’s obviously a genius, but she has other little particular “quirks,” too, which make her character all the more endearing. There’s this weird juxtaposition of how intellectually intelligent she is with how little emotional intelligence she has, because she’s so young. I thought it was so striking and yet oddly adorable! Peter is often annoyed by his little sister, especially when she gets a bunch of attention, and they often squabble, like all siblings do. Yet, there are many touching instances in the book when Peter tries to protect his sister or does his best to take care of her. It’s sibling bonds at their finest! The interactions are so true and recognizable for anyone with siblings of their own.

- Snuck into everything is a commentary about racism that will be recognizable for many minorities, particularly immigrants, and I enjoyed the way it’s handled. This is definitely a subplot type of thing, but it comes up often enough. Haji and Hammy are immigrants, and Peter is technically first generation Canadian. There are moments, though, that I think most minorities will relate to. Like when the family goes to a museum and is greeted in Korean and then Chinese and they have to tell them that they speak English. What struck me most, early on in the book, is the framed Time magazine Haji has hanging on the wall, because it meant so much to him to see Asian people on the cover—something he hadn’t actually thought possible. This builds into a really thoughtful narrative that I think kids will be able to sink their teeth into and understand, without preaching to them about “otherness” or something like that.

[Laina SpareTime]

Posted as part of a blog tour. Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and links and everything.

This is really cute! First of all, dinosaurs are just fun. I know a bunch of kids who would really like this. This is also a really easy book to read – in the best way – with shorter chapters and a quicker pace. Those factors combined with really fun illustrations and a high appeal concept means I think this would be amazing especially for both younger children looking for a reading challenge, and more selective readers looking for something that would really get their attention.

I really liked the family in this, as well. Peter and LB’s parents are pretty strict and very education focused, and Peter doesn’t always enjoy that but he loves his parents and understand they want the best for him. They aren’t seen as perfect – sometimes it’s pointed out they need to remember to let the kids be kids – but the book really treats them as human beings who are doing their best. LB and Peter’s relationship is also cute – she is a little sister still, and can be annoying at times, but he worries about her and she clearly really admires him and supports his hobbies and interests. It’s really sweet.

And I like the grandparents a lot. The main focus of the book really is family.

I’m going to go into a bit of spoiler territory so feel free to skip to the next paragraph, but I think it’s important to mention this as it’s about the message the book sends to its young audience. So, Peter’s gradmother is possibly in the early stages of dementia, and struggling with memory issues. They talk about how eventually she may need to go live in a nursing home if her care needs become too much for the family to handle, but they also realize that for now, there are things they can do to help her at this stage. It’s both open to the idea that someone’s needs may change in the future, and them needing more help than you can provide isn’t a bad thing, but also that there ARE sometimes things you can do to help someone be safe and comfortable and to make their environment suit their needs. I thought it was a very balanced representation that you can’t make someone’s disability go away just by caring about them, but an environment adapted to their needs can definitely improve their quality of life. I liked it a lot.

Also can I just say. The idea of going to a museum and going to dig for fossils sounds AMAZING and I’m sad that it’s not a real thing. I don’t care if I’m almost thirty. I would be right there next to the children with my tiny hammer and chisel. That sounds like a blast.

Overall, this is a really fun book. I think it’s a great summer book – road trip books are always fun – and dinosaurs are always a fun theme. It also doesn’t lack in the heartwarming department, and handles a pretty difficult subject matter very delicately and thoughtfully, being realistic without scaremongering. I think kids are gonna love this one, and I think it’d be a great addition to classroom libraries as well. Big recommend.

Representation: Peter is a self-identified Canadian-born Korean. He is also asthmatic. It’s pretty good asthma repesentation as well – it’s mostly well controlled, but he struggles with it sometimes, and another character with asthma helps him to think about triggers and how to deal with it more actively.

Content notes: Peter has asthma and he has a pretty bad attack during the book, and doesn’t have his inhaler on him. He and his family exprience microaggressions, like a ticket seller assuming they don’t speak English just by looking at them. His grandmother is also beginning to deal with memory issues, possibly dementia.

Other notes:

– There’s like a fair in the book and Peter gets a Hurricane Potato and I’ve had one of those and agree they are delicious.

[Storytime With Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoyed Angela Ahn’s debut Krista Kim-Bap you will fall in love with Peter Lee and his whole family in her new middle grade novel Peter Lee’s Notes From the Field.

In this story, Peter is OBSESSED with dinosaurs, a preschool passion morphed and grew into a potential career in paleontology for the fifth grader. He is very close to his whole Korean family: mom, dad, little sister L.B, Hammy (grandmother) and Haji (grandfather). He deals with the usual fifth grader stuff, a mean and obnoxious bully in Ryan and a great friend in Joe. When an opportunity comes up for a family vacation to Drumheller to participate in an actual dinosaur dig, the whole family, Hammy and Haji included, heads out on a road trip from Vancouver. Peter meticulously takes notes and his scientific mind is telling him there is something up with Hammy. It’s a beautiful, intergenerational story of love, growth and discovery.

I ADORE Peter and L.B. in this story. Peter is so, so relatable and his voice is so clear. I love how Angela Ahn weaves in his scientific interest throughout the story and how she teaches the reader so many new concepts throughout adding elements for the non-fiction fan wrapped up in a fantastic fictional story. L.B. is a typical little sister who probably knows a little too much for her own good. Extremely intelligent and so spunky, she’s a perfect companion character to Peter. The story line with Hammy and Haji will be so familiar to many families who hold their Elders close to them. We live in an area where it is extremely common to see grandmothers and grandfathers picking children up from school and acting as caregivers. When Hammy starts forgetting things it’s cause for concern for Peter and a reminder to adults that as much as we may try to hide the hard things from our children, they are so observant.

Angela Ahn writes an incredibly relatable character in Peter. At one point he fails and fails hard which makes him start to question life. What a common experience for children this age and a lovely reminder to middle grade readers that your life isn’t set in stone when you are ten or eleven. Plans can change, ideas will morph into other ideas and skills are transferable from one interest or goal to another. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t want to tell Ryan to take a long hike! Angela Ahn writes the schoolyard bully to perfection in Ryan. Readers will feel empowered by Peter and his dealings with Ryan. All of the characters in this story are so wonderful, except of course Ryan, readers will want to pick them all up and invite them over for dinner at their house.

I really loved this story and was totally hooked from page one. It’s a fantastic middle grade novel that will appeal to so many readers.

[Diya (Melancholic Blithe)⚡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

To start with the review, can we please take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the cover? It's sooo cute and it describes the book so damn well! Reading this book was like watching a kdrama, so full of life and meaningful message and playfulness.

Peter Lee is an eleven year old boy who is obsessed with dinosaurs and knows he wants to be a paleontologist when we grows up. There's no question about it. He has started mock excavations in the backyard, keeps up to date with any latest findings about dinosaurs and is building his knowledge base about all the scientific stuff. He loves his grandparents, parents (except when, uhum, they force him to do math... why would they do that?) and somewhere his little sis too (interpretations are open to discussion but L.B. and Peter surely have a cute relation). L.B. is full of life, I am not even kidding that girl is made up of 99.9% enthusiasm! She is a genius and knows scientific stuff that are beyond my comprehension... she seems like a walking encyclopedia. And even though she irritates Peter a lot, she cares for him very much.

Ah, I don't even know where should I begin from, this book was so wholesome to read! The family bond was refreshing to another extent. It had been a long time since I read about a family outing and one which seemed so realistic and happening that I could honestly watch the events unfold in front of my eyes. The book discusses about dementia too, in a very subtle but in your face manner. You cannot miss it but at the same time it has been handled very delicately and in an approachable manner. It has Peter standing up to bullies and cute and lovely interactions between Peter and L.B. (they are honestly cute and 100% relatable)! I loved how we see character development in Peter and how he applies his observations. It is so heartwarming to see someone so passionate about what they like, and how they are constantly developing their skills for it. Furthermore, the book had many Korean expressions and I swear I almost died reading them. I really want to learn Korean and the use of some Korean expressions here and there was so amazing! I even admired how the topic of children of immigrants barely knowing their native knowledge was brought up. Even though I am not an immigrant but to me it seemed kind of personal because I feel more comfortable with a foreign language than my native language.

Peter Lee's Notes From the Field was just so heartwarming and pleasant to read!! Honestly there's nothing like reading novels that speak to you in so many different ways!

Trigger Warnings: Dementia, Bullying, Racism, Asthma...

*Thank you netgalley and the publisher to provide me with a copy in exchange for an honest review

[Jennifer Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

Peter is an 11-year old Korean-Canadian boy who is obsessed with dinosaurs and paleontology, has a genius little sister, and a grandmother who is beginning to act strange and forget things. Peter has the chance to take part in a real paleontological dig, where the heat and dust trigger a severe asthma attack and he has to be rushed to the hospital. Humiliated and realizing he is not cut out for the realities of fieldwork, he abandons his interest in paleontology. But, he later finds his scientific-mind, careful observations and note-taking, are just what is needed to help his grandmother, and he begins to reconsider his rejection of paleontology.

I was immediately drawn to this, because like Peter, my first vocational interest was paleontology. But I was self-aware enough to realize I probably wouldn't really like digging in the dirt in the heat and recognized how tedious real fieldwork would be, and practical enough to know there wouldn't be many jobs in that field, but I stayed in the sciences. I still have a fascination with dinosaurs, paleontology, and archaeology, though. I really enjoyed this story, seeing how Peter worked through his disillusionment and found that his scientific approach was just what his grandmother needed. I also enjoyed the relationship between Peter and his younger sister, and became frustrated at the way their mother had pigeon-holed each of them, and had unfair expectation of LB. I loved it when the grandmother stood up to her at the end and made her see that both of her kids were very smart and capable, and that LB was still just a young child and needed to have fun and other interests besides academics.

[Caroline (readtotheend on IG) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this #ownvoices middle grade novel about 11 year old Peter Lee who wants to be a paleontologist. It's his journey exploring that through a great summer opportunity that also requires a family road trip! Peter has severe asthma and I liked the representation of a child dealing with symptoms they have to learn to manage as my 11 year old has severe allergies and goes through similar things like being responsible for carrying around her Epi-pen (instead of an inhaler like Peter). I loved reading about Peter's family, especially his grandparents. There were so many things about Korean culture just seamlessly woven into this book and so much of it reminded me of my own childhood. The Korean kids I knew outside of school that weren't quite friends but we knew each other more just by virtue of seeing each other with parents. The Korean cultural festivals in a big park with lots of delicious Korean food. And I liked the mention of why the mom didn't speak Korean very well - it's not often we read about the parent characters that do not speak a native language? At least I can't think of many books where I've noticed that but it's a big reality for many of us who came over in the 70s wave of immigration and have now grown up through the education systems here and have lost or never had the language of our parents/grandparents. My daughter is now reading this one and she's been picking it up every night, enjoying it a lot! Thankful, as always, that there are books for her to "see" herself in!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Hwee Goh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Lee is a Korean-Canadian middle schooler. He plays soccer and he’s extremely tall (“You don’t get to be this tall by not eating at every opportunity.”)

And he has to deal with a child prodigy of a sister and typical Asian parents determined to squeeze in math worksheets and eradicate the “summer learning loss” from not being in school 😆🫢📚

Peter is also a budding paleontologist, headed to the Royal Terrell Museum to take part in a real-life fossil dig. Well, it goes bust and Peter starts to falter from his one passion in life.

Yet, this book is not so much about the dinosaur-obsessed, but 11-yo Peter’s journey through middle school and coping within an intergenerational family.

There is something wrong with Hammy, their beloved grandma, and Peter and his sister L.B. (Little Beast, who’s real name is Charlotte) have to figure out what to do.

Peter realises he has his paleontology skills on hand to save the situation:

“It was so much more. It was learning how to learn. It was learning to approach problems in an orderly way. It was record keeping. It was observing the environment. It was gathering information and piecing together a conclusion.”

This is a perfect book for dino-lovers who’d appreciate the many dinosaur references but also readers 9+ who like middle grade family drama books.

📚: @times.reads

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you get when you mix a 10-year-old brother who is crazy about dinosaurs, a younger sister who is a child prodigy, and a family trip to the Alberta Badlands and a real paleontology dig at the Royal Tyrrell Museum? Well...uncomfortable hotel rooms, asthma attacks, and a little too much togetherness is a pretty good guess.

Peter Lee loves dinosaurs and plans to become a paleontologist. His little sister L.B. is enrolled in numerous enrichment programs (a gifted child), but the family decides to take a trip so that Peter can live his dream of participating in a real dig. Things ought to be great, but Peter and L.B. have both been noticing that their grandmother is more confused and forgetful every day. This might be their last trip together.

Peter is a "Canadian-born Korean" whose grandparents Hammy and Haji live nearby and are very involved in his life. The story of how his grandparents met, the family's day at a KoreanCanadian festival, and other details give readers a glimpse of the cultural background of Peter's family. #OwnVoices

If you know someone who loves realistic fiction - this book deals with obnoxious classmates, a mother determined to have her children reach their full potential, sibling relationships, families coping with the stress of dementia, and overcoming disappointments. This also has enough action and humor to make it a good classroom read-aloud for middle grades.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was refreshing to read a book about a Korean family. I feel that is an underrepresented group in children's literature. I liked the family dynamics. It's clear they all love each other, but they also get on each other's nerves like any real family. Peter's struggles, with his family, with bullies at school, with his passion, and his health, are all very relatable. I did think that at times there was a lot going on. From finding ways to manage his frustrations with LB, to the bully, to the asthma, to the dementia, to the family dynamics, to the paleontology, it was definitely a multi-faceted book. While it does reflect the intersectionality of real life, it might be a lot for some middle grade readers to follow. Once in a while, there is some tougher vocabulary, especially with the paleontology discussions, but I think most middle grade readers will be able to make it through this book pretty easily. I also liked how the ending wasn't necessarily neat and tidy. We see the potential for change and growth in Peter's family in the future. This is a great middle grade story that reflects an underrepresented perspective but places it solidly in the relatable experience of an eleven-year-old boy. Will definitely recommend this!

[Komal Yadav · Rating 4 out of 5]

PLOT: This is a story of an eleven year old aspiring paleontologist, Peter Lee who also suffers from asthma.

REVIEW:

• A child suffering from Asthma wants to become a paleontologist knowing fully well that this profession involves working at dusty sites! This concept is so unique and inspiring. An eleven year old opting for a profession that could make his medical condition worse!

• Cudos to writer for exploring this uncharted territory. Such stories are rare and definitely will inspire younger generation to follow their dream despite hurdles.

• The book is written for 9-12 year old readers. Hence, the story and language is kept as simple as possible.

• It was refreshing to read family relationships and sibling bond from an eleven year old's perspective. Everything was easy breezy yet had a deep meaning.

• I liked the bond between Peter and her sister. That's exactly how siblings behave. Fighting for last slice of pizza but standing up for each other at critical moments.

WHY READ THIS: The book is meant for younger audience but in my opinion anyone could read it. It has a likability factor which is difficult to point out. Maybe the premise of book is very appealing, at least it was for me.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a gifted copy of Peter Lee’s Notes From the Field from Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

Peter Lee is a fifth grader with a passion for palaeontology. When he is not in school, he likes to hang out in his grandparent’s backyard practicing his skills. He keeps a little notebook with him as he takes notes of the observations around him. While he has to deal with a mean kid at school and his younger sister is gifted (and annoying, according to Peter), he is also looking forward to the summer break. When summer arrives, things start turning awry. His first real dinosaur expedition turns out to be a mess and something is also up with his grandmother. While he may be ready to give up on his dreams, he is determined to help his grandmother.

This was a funny and heartwarming story about a young boy and his family as he navigates through the summer between fifth and sixth grade. He learns valuable lessons about himself and his family. And that he may find unexpected allies around him given the chance. It was a fun read that I think many middle grade readers will enjoy. I also learned a lot about dinosaurs and other facts that I wouldn’t have known otherwise in this surprisingly informative book thanks to Peter and his sister.

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there's one thing I am obsessed with lately, it's dinosaurs. And this novel's cover drew me in based on the dinosaurs alone; however, Peter soon stole my heart. Although, Trixie's adventures brought me much joy throughout the novel as well.
This is a heartwarming novel that centers around the Lee family. Peter is navigating so many issues in his young life of 10/11 years: his Korean/Canadian identity, his grandparents aging, his grandmother's diagnosis with alzheimer's, his growth spurt, school bullies, sports, his parents' high expectations for schooling/learning, his asthma, his love of dinosaurs and Paleontology, and his sister L.B. (Little Beast - while not explicitly mentioned, it is implied that L.B. probably as Asperger's Syndrome or something similar). There's so much going on, it feels like it should be overwhelming for Peter. But Peter is a gifted artist and loves his family. He's able to use his strengths to help out his family and makes many sacrifices for the good of his family. This makes him a hero to me.
This story does a wonderful job at showing reality, yet hope. Peter fulfills his life-long dream of a paleontology dig, has his dreams shattered, and rebuilds hope for new dreams by the end of the novel. It's inspiring.

[MaryLou Driedger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is about an eleven-year-old boy named Peter from a Korean family in the Vancouver area. Peter's grandparents are an important daily part of his life and have been since he was a baby.
Peter wants to be a palaeontologist but he also loves drawing. When he finds out that his grandmother's strange behaviour means she has dementia he uses both the organizational, research and observation skills he's learned studying dinosaurs, and the artistic skills he's been honing and exploring, to come up with a plan to help his grandma remain in her own home rather than move to a senior's residence quite a distance away. If she moves there he won't get to see her nearly as often. Peter's dealing with some tough personal stuff too. There's a braggart and bully in his school class who likes to pick on him and he's feeling inadequate compared to his sister who is a whiz kid with an IQ off the charts. His asthma is putting a damper on his palaeontology ambitions. As he works to help his Grandma some of those issues resolve as well.
The book gives us a realistic look at family life and will be an important one for children dealing with a relative that has dementia. The illustrations are delightful and I loved the diary-like entry format.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming story that has some nicely timed bits of humor to offset some of the sadder elements. When Peter has a devastating experience at his paleontology camp (not a spoiler this is on the back even though it doesn’t take place until the halfway point) my heart felt for him. Though I was also a little irritated at how quickly he throws his dream away. There is no major “a-ha” moment or speech that is a teaching moment for him, his parents and grandparents just let him be and eventually it seems as though Peter might be willing to give things another try on the Dino-front.

The first half of the book is really about Peter’s Dino obsession and how it falls apart. The second half is about his grandmother’s ongoing dementia and how everyone manages that. The loss of the Dino dream, the loss of Hammy’s memory are both terribly sad. It’s a serious book about serious topics. Though I did laugh out loud in a few places and was very glad to have that levity. This would be a good novel study in the elementary classroom as there’s a lot to talk about.

[Kay S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As sad as the middle of this book made me, I can't deny that it's well-written, well thought out, and absolutely perfect for our age group. The framing narrative of Peter's love of palaeontology was so touching and how he grew into himself may be the best realistic fiction I've read in a long while. It's a great representation of ways people incorporate their family's culture into their everyday life and the little ways that can influence everything from their friend groups to who they look up to. Also the sibling drama! Hoo boy. With my brother having a learning disability, I remember feeling exactly like Peter having to sit in parking lots or attend things that had no bearing on me while everyone paid attention to my brother. Great story, bit of a tear-jerker in the middle but for a book coping with ailing grandparents it's a soft and easy look at something that can be the hardest thing a child has to go through.

[Ashley Dang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful and heartfelt story! I absolutely adored reading this and joining eleven year old Peter Lee and his journey. The story has fun art inside and little field motes from Peter’s notebook, which is such a charming detail. The story is told from Peter’s perspective and his journey from dealing with asthma, paleontology dreams, a genius little sister, and a family member that has suddenly become sick. The family dynamic is such so well fleshed out and I really adored the authenticity of it. The things that Peter deals with in the story are very real struggles for kids and people of all ages, and found him to be a relatable character. The story was delightful, heart warming, and I think it would make a great read for anyone of all ages!

* Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[Eleana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent MG read with an 11-yr old Korean dino-enthusiast protagonist. At its heart, this is a book about family. Petey has dreams of being a palaeontologist and is given the opportunity for a trip of a lifetime to Drumheller but along the way discovers that there may be changes happening to his grandmother's health. I must admit, his little sister, LB, very much steals the show for me, I love her character. It was also very nice to see Korean culture on the forefront. I found the family dynamics of an Asian family, notably parent expectations and sibling rivalry to be realistically portrayed; it definitely reminded me of my youth. All in all, a very good read and I am looking forward to sharing it with my students.

[Lee Födi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. It’s full of characters who are funny, charming, and likeable. There is a lot of heart here; I loved the storyline of Peter exploring his passions and realizing how not everything is necessarily a straight line in life—but you can still arrive at important places. The relationship between Peter’s sister L.B. and Hammy (I love this abbreviation of “Halmoni,” which means grandma in Korean) is beautiful and touching (actually, so is Peter’s relationship with Hammy, but it was the specialness between L.B. and Hammy that really tugged at me). I can’t wait to share this one with my students!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't so sure at first. Peter's personality ping ponged between bratty and braggy (competition with Ryan right out of the gate was annoying), but eventually I fell in love with him and determined he had a very genuine voice for his age. Middle school is full of hormones and drama, and Peter certainly brought humor to a lot of those scenes. Again, I was uncertain how the story would wrap up, and it was a bit swift to come to a resolution (circus camp came out of nowhere), but I liked the conclusion and messy uncertainty of it all. Would love to see this one in person. Nice to have listened to it, but would love to see illustrations.