What do you think?
Rate this book
Jurassic World
Maisie Lockwood Adventures #1: Off the Grid
With her guardians, Owen Grady & Claire Dearing, Maisie has gone off the grid as they search for their lost Velociraptor, Blue, while avoiding the government and other, more sinister threats. But living out of a camper - and without a phone! - is tough. Luckily, they end up at a summer camp site, where Maisie makes some new friends. But it turns out her friends have a secret of their own. And with a group of ruthless dinosaur poachers in the area, no one is safe.
This original hardcover novel tells the all-new adventures of Maisie Lockwood as she navigates a world filled with dinosaurs both ferocious and friendly.
This original hardcover novel tells the all-new adventures of Maisie Lockwood as she navigates a world filled with dinosaurs both ferocious and friendly.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2022
11 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
About the author
Tess Sharpe
18 books2,174 followersI do not read my goodreads mail, but if you'd like to contact me the best way to reach me is tess(at)tess-sharpe.com
Born in a mountain cabin to a punk rocker mother, Tess Sharpe grew up in rural California. She lives deep in the backwoods with a pack of dogs and a growing cabal of slightly feral cats.
Born in a mountain cabin to a punk rocker mother, Tess Sharpe grew up in rural California. She lives deep in the backwoods with a pack of dogs and a growing cabal of slightly feral cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 2, 2022
It was so cute! You do need to already have some Jurassic World knowledge to keep up with the characters and their history but I think it’s an adorable read.
And I love Tess Sharpe so
And I love Tess Sharpe so
December 18, 2022
Plot - 3/5
🦖
Character - 3/5🦖
World Building - 4/5
🦖
Writing Style - 3/5 🦖
Cover - 5/5 🦖
Rating - 3.6 / 5 🦖
🦖
Character - 3/5🦖
World Building - 4/5
🦖
Writing Style - 3/5 🦖
Cover - 5/5 🦖
Rating - 3.6 / 5 🦖
June 15, 2022
This is entirely for kids, but it’s really cute and gives you some insight into the four years between Fallen Kingdom and Dominion…since it’s officially licensed, I believe that makes it canon with the except of the changes that made their way to the movie? Anyway, it’s great, that or I’m just jealous of Maisie and dinosaurs. Or both.
September 13, 2022
I cannot TELL you how much I loved the Claire/Owen/Maisie scenes in Dominion, except by saying the first thing I did after watching that movie was hop online to try and find a middle grade novel with this exact family dynamic...only to find it already existed in undiluted form. Dreams come true!
The series isn't perfectly canon compliant, given film!Maisie saying "the only people I've spoken to in the last 4 years are you both," but that wouldn't have made the most compelling story, so I'm OK with a mild AU. Nor could I get as invested in the part that makes it appeal to its target demographic, i.e. where Maisie meets a group of kids her own age and comes up with a plan to help them protect/rescue/relocate a pair of stray juvenile Triceratops. It's fine, and still fun, just not over the top exciting for me (although the bad-guy-foiling end is pretty great).
However, every single mention of Claire & Owen made my heart SING. My first comment about Dominion was "he's such a good dad! she's such a good mom!" and that's on full display here. I lost track of all the little things that made me repeat those lines, so just know its in basically every interaction, and their affection for each other is clear as well. A few favorites off the top of my head --
* Owen teaching Maisie how to track, and also grabbing her by the back of her vest just as she accidentally runs off the edge of a cliff
* Claire being SUCH a mom, from eagerly incorporating education into everything possible to reminding Maisie about sunscreen
* A particularly glorious scene in which someone tries to tell Owen that Maisie isn't even his daughter, and he just SCHOOLS them, in full earshot of her no less:
"She is my daughter in every way that counts." (Honestly, the audiobook is worth it just to hear that line and all its quietly thunderous emphasis.)
Basically, would you like to hear a lot of Maisie referring to them as her mom and dad / Owen and Claire referring to each other as husband and wife, and Maisie as their daughter, to any third party who will listen? HERE YA GO.
In sum, I love this stupid lil' dino book so much that I read it twice -- first as an ebook, for lack of library print copies and how absurdly expensive the hardcover is, and then again on audio to make sure I properly absorbed it all. I don't recommend the audio so much because the narrator ignores Maisie's British accent entirely, which contributes to the feeling that this is so much an AU, maybe she's actually their biological kid they've been raising all this time and there's some other reason they have to keep her hidden from authorities. But it's not grating, by any means. As far as kids audiobooks go, it's certainly entertaining enough, and if you can grab it through Libby you might as well.
Also, shout-out to the numerous illustrations, which are definitely "transformative fanwork" in style and don't really resemble the actors so much as concept art for a cartoon series, but they're still a fun addition. I especially like the one of Maisie stretched out with her sketchbook and fairy lights in the back of "Pumpkin" the orange camper van.
I am already bouncing on my toes waiting for the release of the next book, and the one months after that.
The series isn't perfectly canon compliant, given film!Maisie saying "the only people I've spoken to in the last 4 years are you both," but that wouldn't have made the most compelling story, so I'm OK with a mild AU. Nor could I get as invested in the part that makes it appeal to its target demographic, i.e. where Maisie meets a group of kids her own age and comes up with a plan to help them protect/rescue/relocate a pair of stray juvenile Triceratops. It's fine, and still fun, just not over the top exciting for me (although the bad-guy-foiling end is pretty great).
However, every single mention of Claire & Owen made my heart SING. My first comment about Dominion was "he's such a good dad! she's such a good mom!" and that's on full display here. I lost track of all the little things that made me repeat those lines, so just know its in basically every interaction, and their affection for each other is clear as well. A few favorites off the top of my head --
* Owen teaching Maisie how to track, and also grabbing her by the back of her vest just as she accidentally runs off the edge of a cliff
* Claire being SUCH a mom, from eagerly incorporating education into everything possible to reminding Maisie about sunscreen
* A particularly glorious scene in which someone tries to tell Owen that Maisie isn't even his daughter, and he just SCHOOLS them, in full earshot of her no less:
"She is my daughter in every way that counts." (Honestly, the audiobook is worth it just to hear that line and all its quietly thunderous emphasis.)
Basically, would you like to hear a lot of Maisie referring to them as her mom and dad / Owen and Claire referring to each other as husband and wife, and Maisie as their daughter, to any third party who will listen? HERE YA GO.
In sum, I love this stupid lil' dino book so much that I read it twice -- first as an ebook, for lack of library print copies and how absurdly expensive the hardcover is, and then again on audio to make sure I properly absorbed it all. I don't recommend the audio so much because the narrator ignores Maisie's British accent entirely, which contributes to the feeling that this is so much an AU, maybe she's actually their biological kid they've been raising all this time and there's some other reason they have to keep her hidden from authorities. But it's not grating, by any means. As far as kids audiobooks go, it's certainly entertaining enough, and if you can grab it through Libby you might as well.
Also, shout-out to the numerous illustrations, which are definitely "transformative fanwork" in style and don't really resemble the actors so much as concept art for a cartoon series, but they're still a fun addition. I especially like the one of Maisie stretched out with her sketchbook and fairy lights in the back of "Pumpkin" the orange camper van.
I am already bouncing on my toes waiting for the release of the next book, and the one months after that.
June 25, 2022
This book was so cute! Great fun for all ages that seamlessly works with the Jurassic franchise. I loved the extra background this book provided between films, Maisie wasn’t too juvenile and the positive adults in her life were reasonable and supportive. I can’t wait to see where this series goes.
November 28, 2022
This is a cute little read aimed at a younger audience. As a huge lover of the franchise I'm always looking for new books, no matter what the age its intended for. You kind of need to know the characters backstories for this read but it was a fun little afternoon read with some lovely illustrations. The characters were simple and fun, the storyline was full of adventure and dinosaurs with a sprinkling of daring plots. I'd love more books aimed at us adults but this was a nice little read as a fan of the series.
September 21, 2023
Even if you're not familiar with the movie Jurassic World Dominion (I've seen the movie, but I still had to Google the summary since I couldn't remember the details, and the book presumes you know them), OFF THE GRID is a fun, entertaining adventure novel. It's a quick read, with lots of dinosaur action, which should appeal to young readers. Maisie is a sympathetic character, whose bravery and passion for saving vulnerable animals makes her admirable. The book is plot/action-centric, but it does teach some good lessons about honesty, family, friendship, protecting animals, and taking responsibility for your own actions. Even though it's hardly great literature, I enjoyed OFF THE GRID. Kids who dig dinosaurs and like action-packed adventure stories should as well.
If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
January 30, 2024
This books is Cricht-line adjacent (Crichton line as in reading his properties and books) so I had to read it
This book was aimed towards tween/middle grade kids but was still highly enjoyable for myself, I enjoyed how they made the most unlikable character ever likable. The found family trope in this book and how it allowed girls to be able to have friendships without feeling the need to fall in love was so refreshing.
Sadly like most books these days this was a tad bit sexist with some gender roles thrown in but this was way less sexist then Fazbear frights books and other Sci-fi books which is an improvement.
If you love dinosaurs you should read this even if you hate fallen kingdom it was greatly enjoyable with beautiful illustrations
This book was aimed towards tween/middle grade kids but was still highly enjoyable for myself, I enjoyed how they made the most unlikable character ever likable. The found family trope in this book and how it allowed girls to be able to have friendships without feeling the need to fall in love was so refreshing.
Sadly like most books these days this was a tad bit sexist with some gender roles thrown in but this was way less sexist then Fazbear frights books and other Sci-fi books which is an improvement.
If you love dinosaurs you should read this even if you hate fallen kingdom it was greatly enjoyable with beautiful illustrations
April 24, 2024
Apparently you're supposed to have watched the first two of three 2010s+ Jurassic Park movies, as this one takes place between two and three. I had no context for anything that was happening, so I used YouTube for movie trailers and Wikipedia for plot summaries to fill in the background.
It wasn't very enjoyable because for as short as the book was I had to do too much looking for backstory.
Plot: she's a clone with no history or family, on the run with ex dinosaur park employees who are looking to save escaped dinosaurs. Good thing triceratops are friendly, because a group of kids wants to rescue them. As for the raptor Blue, don't worry. She's kinda friendly...
It wasn't very enjoyable because for as short as the book was I had to do too much looking for backstory.
Plot: she's a clone with no history or family, on the run with ex dinosaur park employees who are looking to save escaped dinosaurs. Good thing triceratops are friendly, because a group of kids wants to rescue them. As for the raptor Blue, don't worry. She's kinda friendly...
September 28, 2022
Thank you Penguin Random House Audio for the free audiobook. Wondering how Maisie, Claire, and Owen wrangled Blue and landed on that snowy ranch? Tess Sharpe's middle grade novels fill in the gap between Fallen Kingdom and Dominion, with the chipper clone exuding strong dinosaur girl energy. Narrator Rachel Jacobs strikes the perfect note of excitement with just a little trepidation.
January 10, 2023
The book definitely assumes you have background knowledge with Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom and know Maisie’s backstory from the movie about being a clone and Owen and Claire rescue them. I don’t feel like there is enough background fill in for someone who hasn’t watched the movie to get *as much* from the book.
This is a nice fill in story between Jurassic World and JW Dominion. It gives a little more depth and personality to Maisie. She doesn’t have a LOT of deep thoughts or personal reflections but we see her socialize at a campground with some kids her age and see some of the relationship with Owen and Claire, along with watching her learn about dinosaurs becoming a bit of her own behavior expert.
Audio- average-good narrator- 1.5 speed
This is a nice fill in story between Jurassic World and JW Dominion. It gives a little more depth and personality to Maisie. She doesn’t have a LOT of deep thoughts or personal reflections but we see her socialize at a campground with some kids her age and see some of the relationship with Owen and Claire, along with watching her learn about dinosaurs becoming a bit of her own behavior expert.
Audio- average-good narrator- 1.5 speed
March 1, 2023
The kids and I read this together- quick and easy read. The timeline of the story takes place after Fallen Kingdom but before Dominion in the Jurassic World franchise. The story focuses on Maisie’s feelings and growth as she explores the world around her, makes friends, and becoming a family unit with Claire and Owen, while tracking the dinosaurs she let loose into the world.
A definite must read for any fan of the franchise.
A definite must read for any fan of the franchise.
Read
August 24, 2024I thought this was a fun middle grade read! Definitely a tie in to the Jurassic World movies, but interesting and also fills in the time period between movies. I liked that there wasn't a lot of evolution references. I also felt it filled a plot hole from the last movie.. (how did Blue and Owen & friends end up so close?!?!)
February 18, 2025
What is Your Favorite character: Maise Lockwood Because she was one of the main characters and she did a lot of action.
What surprised you: at the end when Maise threw a honey water balloons at the dinosaur poachers
Would you change the ending: no because there was tons of action and fit really well in the story
What surprised you: at the end when Maise threw a honey water balloons at the dinosaur poachers
Would you change the ending: no because there was tons of action and fit really well in the story
October 27, 2022
An amazing book, enjoyed the adventure and danger! It's super fun and definitely worth reading with kids too if they're fans of the jurassic franchise. And being a huge jurassic fan myself and also a massive clawen shipper this makes my heart so happy too. Can't wait to read the next ones.
September 12, 2023
Maybe 3.5 stars? I like how good-hearted Maisie is, and I like that the Jurassic World franchise is adding kids' books, but I wasn't impressed by the writing in this one. I think the YA one that the author did about a teenaged Claire was better written. Ah well.
June 20, 2022
Maisie's mini adventure of
Jurassic World.. no, Jurassic Camp
Jurassic World.. no, Jurassic Camp
June 22, 2022
Absolutely adorable
This reads like a kidss cartoon but in the best way possible. It's motioned down, the adults aren't idiots, and he plots was cute. Can't wait for the next one!
This reads like a kidss cartoon but in the best way possible. It's motioned down, the adults aren't idiots, and he plots was cute. Can't wait for the next one!
July 6, 2022
Great dinosaur tale in the Jurassic World universe. My family read aloud on a road trip and really enjoyed this dinosaur adventure.
July 26, 2022
I read this out loud with my kids who are avid Jurassic World fans, so for that very enthusiastic audience (which is the ideal audience for this middle grade novel) this was definitely a 5-star book.
August 22, 2022
I don't think the author quite got Maisie's "voice" right, but this was super cute and fun to read. I'm looking forward to more of Maisie's adventures!
October 8, 2022
A fun read with a good mix of adventure, danger, and love. If you like the Jurassic movies and kids being clever, you’ll enjoy this.
January 12, 2023
i’m just in love with the milf that is claire
Read
March 17, 2023so so cutee.. that's my family
August 25, 2023
I listened to this to satisfy a book challenge. It was interesting, but since I hadn't seen the latest Jurassic Park installment, I was a little lost on the characters.
March 3, 2024
*3.5 stars* it’s hard to rate this bc i am not a child and therefore the book is not for me but i will say BEST FAMILY. the illustrations were very cool. its a lovely easy read
May 19, 2024
★ ★ ★.5
this was a quick fun read that i needed after reading so many fantasy books lately . I absolutely love the Jurassic World Franchise so i really enjoyed this book!
this was a quick fun read that i needed after reading so many fantasy books lately . I absolutely love the Jurassic World Franchise so i really enjoyed this book!
June 25, 2024
Luv it... But I think I skipped the part where it said it was a kids book lol
August 26, 2025
so cute. wouldn't change a thing. this was a quality read honestly with some great life lessons for the kiddos. 10/10 recommend. it kinda felt like I was watching a family friendly movie.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews