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Mammoth #1
Mammoth
Hardy Boys meets Indiana Jones in this new adventure novel.
After the death of his father, misfit and aspiring paleontologist Tommy Rhodes seeks refuge in the ramshackle lighthouse that stands guard over the city of Mammoth, Washington. Left in disarray by years of bad weather, it’s the perfect place for Tommy to hide from everything that’s gone wrong with his life – and to party with his band of friends, the Jailbirds – the only family he has left.
After a storm uncovers a secret hidden in the walls of the old lighthouse, Tommy unravels a mystery beyond his wildest dreams and the deadly conspiracy that surrounds it – and Tommy’s entire life seems tangled at the heart of it all.
Tommy and the Jailbirds – Jude, Maya, Mars, and newcomer Lydia – are thrust into the middle of a deadly hunt for the truth that will challenge their bond, uncover the secrets that lurk beneath the surface of Mammoth, and test just how far they’ll go to set things right.
With a rich and diverse cast of uniquely compelling characters, Mammoth’s “Jailbirds” prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that they can hold their own against legendary ensembles like Outer Banks’ “Pogues” and The Grishaverse’s “Crows.”
After the death of his father, misfit and aspiring paleontologist Tommy Rhodes seeks refuge in the ramshackle lighthouse that stands guard over the city of Mammoth, Washington. Left in disarray by years of bad weather, it’s the perfect place for Tommy to hide from everything that’s gone wrong with his life – and to party with his band of friends, the Jailbirds – the only family he has left.
After a storm uncovers a secret hidden in the walls of the old lighthouse, Tommy unravels a mystery beyond his wildest dreams and the deadly conspiracy that surrounds it – and Tommy’s entire life seems tangled at the heart of it all.
Tommy and the Jailbirds – Jude, Maya, Mars, and newcomer Lydia – are thrust into the middle of a deadly hunt for the truth that will challenge their bond, uncover the secrets that lurk beneath the surface of Mammoth, and test just how far they’ll go to set things right.
With a rich and diverse cast of uniquely compelling characters, Mammoth’s “Jailbirds” prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that they can hold their own against legendary ensembles like Outer Banks’ “Pogues” and The Grishaverse’s “Crows.”
503 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2022
About the author
Brian McBride
15 books281 followersBorn and raised in the misty mountains of Oregon before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, Brian has been writing since he was old enough to hold a pen and has been reading for even longer. A profesionnal multi- tasker, Brian has built a Tiny House on Wheels, started a small business, launched his own publishing house, and serves as pastor at his church. His growing list of interests include but are not limited to: his goofy German Shepherd, Arlo, iced tea, tropical getaways, and angsty teen dramas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
January 3, 2022
I wrote this for the twenty-somethings still trying to find their place in the world. The ones who often feel like the world is too small and they don’t fit. The ones who feel out of place and aimless. The ones who don’t need to leave a mark on the world, because making a mark on the people you love is enough. The ones who want to finish what their mother, father, grandpa, grandma, or anyone else started.
Welcome to Mammoth.
Welcome to Mammoth.
May 13, 2022
Wow. I can honestly say that Mammoth blew me away in the most unexpected ways. I read this book based on a close friend’s recommendation, and I’m soooo glad I did. Gritty, fast-paced, and touching, Mammoth is a stunning novel that navigates family, friendships, mystery, adventure, and oh-my-goodness-I-can’t-stop-reading-plot twists.
Content rating: 3.75/5
A few content warnings are included here in this section of my review, as well as several trigger warnings. There are abusive family relationships explored in the book, and for readers who have personally experienced this, please be aware that this is a part of the story. The author handled it very well in my opinion, but I felt it was important to mention this for those who may have potential triggers. Also, there is an “almost” closed-door scene between one of the main characters and her boyfriend. When I say almost, I mean just that—So. Very. Close. To. Happening. I. Skimmed. To. The. Bottom. Of. The. Page. To. Make. Sure. It. Didn’t. I’m happy to report that the MC got herself out of that situation before her boyfriend took away her purity. This scene…wasn’t my favorite. I understand that stuff like this happens in real life all the time, and girls are pressured to have romantic intercourse before marriage, and I *SO* appreciate that the MC valued her purity and fought for it, but at the same time…reading “almost” scenes is always a big cautionary for me. The author wasn’t explicit or too graphic, but I still had a very good idea of what was happening and what almost took place. (Would not recommend this book to younger readers, but for young adults like myself, I think it’s appropriate.) Again, the author handled this scene in a way where, even though I didn’t love reading about it, I didn’t DNF this read. And I’m so grateful for that because THIS. BOOK. GOT. ME. (Personal rating to follow)
Personal rating: 4.5/5
Content warnings aside, it’s time for my personal thoughts on Mammoth. I loved the pacing of the story. Each chapter was the perfect length, ranging from as short as two pages to as long as fifteen (don’t quote me on that estimation, haha). It didn’t feel too dragged out or too abrupt; it was perfect. Pacing is a really important story element to me, and the author nailed it perfectly to the point where I stayed up late last night to finish the book. About 3/4 of the way through, it’s pretty much impossible to put down.
The characters…ahh, I loved the friendship between the Jailbirds so much. They fought for each other, protected one another, and accepted each other for who they were. Not who their families pressured them to be or their circumstances would have others see them as. No, for exactly who they were—imperfect, broken, and real. Their bond of friendship was so sweet and really tugged on the heartstrings. (Can I just say…Maya and Jude? My. Heart.)
There were some really great truths woven into the story, and I definitely highlighted them on my Kindle! (I’ll include my favorite one at the end of this review because it’s just too good not to share!) I really appreciate stories that weave truth into a book without distracting from the storyline. Again, the author nailed this and the morals/truths he sprinkled into the story were so well done.
Can I just say—the ending? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK TO COME OUT?! That cliffhanger and the potential relationships and the suspense. Goshhhh. When’s the next book coming out, like for real? I absolutely want to read it and dive into another story with Tommy, Lydia, Jude, Maya, and Mars and pick up their adventure.
All in all, even though I docked some points because of content warnings, I really loved this book so much. Mammoth is an incredible read, and I know I’ll be rereading it again!
“The lies we most easily believe are those we don’t recognize as lies.”
“Upper class, lower-class—it’s really all the same in the end, isn’t it? If we don’t make something of ourselves, it all goes away, and nothing matters but what we’ve built.”
“For all the bad that’s happened in my life, there’s too much good that’s come of it for me to spend too much time focusing on the things I wish had been different.”
Content rating: 3.75/5
A few content warnings are included here in this section of my review, as well as several trigger warnings. There are abusive family relationships explored in the book, and for readers who have personally experienced this, please be aware that this is a part of the story. The author handled it very well in my opinion, but I felt it was important to mention this for those who may have potential triggers. Also, there is an “almost” closed-door scene between one of the main characters and her boyfriend. When I say almost, I mean just that—So. Very. Close. To. Happening. I. Skimmed. To. The. Bottom. Of. The. Page. To. Make. Sure. It. Didn’t. I’m happy to report that the MC got herself out of that situation before her boyfriend took away her purity. This scene…wasn’t my favorite. I understand that stuff like this happens in real life all the time, and girls are pressured to have romantic intercourse before marriage, and I *SO* appreciate that the MC valued her purity and fought for it, but at the same time…reading “almost” scenes is always a big cautionary for me. The author wasn’t explicit or too graphic, but I still had a very good idea of what was happening and what almost took place. (Would not recommend this book to younger readers, but for young adults like myself, I think it’s appropriate.) Again, the author handled this scene in a way where, even though I didn’t love reading about it, I didn’t DNF this read. And I’m so grateful for that because THIS. BOOK. GOT. ME. (Personal rating to follow)
Personal rating: 4.5/5
Content warnings aside, it’s time for my personal thoughts on Mammoth. I loved the pacing of the story. Each chapter was the perfect length, ranging from as short as two pages to as long as fifteen (don’t quote me on that estimation, haha). It didn’t feel too dragged out or too abrupt; it was perfect. Pacing is a really important story element to me, and the author nailed it perfectly to the point where I stayed up late last night to finish the book. About 3/4 of the way through, it’s pretty much impossible to put down.
The characters…ahh, I loved the friendship between the Jailbirds so much. They fought for each other, protected one another, and accepted each other for who they were. Not who their families pressured them to be or their circumstances would have others see them as. No, for exactly who they were—imperfect, broken, and real. Their bond of friendship was so sweet and really tugged on the heartstrings. (Can I just say…Maya and Jude? My. Heart.)
There were some really great truths woven into the story, and I definitely highlighted them on my Kindle! (I’ll include my favorite one at the end of this review because it’s just too good not to share!) I really appreciate stories that weave truth into a book without distracting from the storyline. Again, the author nailed this and the morals/truths he sprinkled into the story were so well done.
Can I just say—the ending? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK TO COME OUT?! That cliffhanger and the potential relationships and the suspense. Goshhhh. When’s the next book coming out, like for real? I absolutely want to read it and dive into another story with Tommy, Lydia, Jude, Maya, and Mars and pick up their adventure.
All in all, even though I docked some points because of content warnings, I really loved this book so much. Mammoth is an incredible read, and I know I’ll be rereading it again!
“The lies we most easily believe are those we don’t recognize as lies.”
“Upper class, lower-class—it’s really all the same in the end, isn’t it? If we don’t make something of ourselves, it all goes away, and nothing matters but what we’ve built.”
“For all the bad that’s happened in my life, there’s too much good that’s come of it for me to spend too much time focusing on the things I wish had been different.”
March 26, 2022
4.5 stars!!!
This was a wild ride and one worth embarking on!
I tried to enjoy OBX, I really did. Honestly, I loved the premise. Friends. Found family. Classist issues. Mystery. Intrigue. Race against time. Heist level situations.
But the show fell flat. Ngl, I might get hate for this, but not only was there so much content that was just annoyingly overdone, the story also felt flat. There were emotional highs I really connected to, but overall, I had a hard time connecting to the characters.
All that to say, enter Mammoth.
Not only is it set in my favorite place to visit in the whole world... the Pacific Northwest... but it has all of the things I loved about Outer Banks without all the garbage.. and honestly, I mean this in all sincerity. The writing was better.
Like... far and away, out of this world, better.
An episodic flare, POV switches and enough characters to give everyone someone to love, gritty, but clean content, and characters that are even MORE loveable and relatable than OBX... Honestly, Brian just took OBX, and made it a million times better. LOL!
So if you are in for a good Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew inspired murder mystery, a group of found friends and pals, some subtle budding romance, a FREAKING FOSSIL, all wrapped up in the adventure story of the year. Then get this book on your TBR asap. It's a race to the finish line, stay up late kind of book. You won't want to put it down. It will stick with you for days like a hangover from a season finale you weren't prepared for.
This book is a fantastic example to me of how to write grit and sin... all without glorifying it. Mcbride's voice handles these topics super well without being graphic, extra, or over the top. While there are mentions of
This was a wild ride and one worth embarking on!
I tried to enjoy OBX, I really did. Honestly, I loved the premise. Friends. Found family. Classist issues. Mystery. Intrigue. Race against time. Heist level situations.
But the show fell flat. Ngl, I might get hate for this, but not only was there so much content that was just annoyingly overdone, the story also felt flat. There were emotional highs I really connected to, but overall, I had a hard time connecting to the characters.
All that to say, enter Mammoth.
Not only is it set in my favorite place to visit in the whole world... the Pacific Northwest... but it has all of the things I loved about Outer Banks without all the garbage.. and honestly, I mean this in all sincerity. The writing was better.
Like... far and away, out of this world, better.
An episodic flare, POV switches and enough characters to give everyone someone to love, gritty, but clean content, and characters that are even MORE loveable and relatable than OBX... Honestly, Brian just took OBX, and made it a million times better. LOL!
So if you are in for a good Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew inspired murder mystery, a group of found friends and pals, some subtle budding romance, a FREAKING FOSSIL, all wrapped up in the adventure story of the year. Then get this book on your TBR asap. It's a race to the finish line, stay up late kind of book. You won't want to put it down. It will stick with you for days like a hangover from a season finale you weren't prepared for.
This book is a fantastic example to me of how to write grit and sin... all without glorifying it. Mcbride's voice handles these topics super well without being graphic, extra, or over the top. While there are mentions of
October 17, 2022
Okay, so I had two issues with this book. The first one started bothering me almost right away: a lot of what happens in the story is a little unbelievable. And I was ready for a typical treasure-hunt adventure story which I don’t expect to be particularly realistic. The second I didn’t fully realize until after I’d finished reading it: this book has some serious originality issues. It’s giving Christopher Paolini a run for his money.
So, I snatched this book up because fossils, mysteries, treasure-hunts. You know. I like that kind of thing. The setting had promise—the Pacific Northwest. There was an abandoned lighthouse….
And then the story started. Right off the bat, the whole class-struggle between the “Bluecoats” (rich people) and the “Jailbirds” (poor people) seemed weird. It didn’t sound like anything that would happen in the modern-day real-world in an actual town in the US where people could visit—or leave if they wanted. I mean, classism kind of exists, but I had never heard of people making up cool-sounding nicknames for each other and randomly punching each other out in public places just because one was part of a weird “ruling class” and the other wasn’t. It doesn’t happen in my town, but maybe we’re an oddity.
I also found the backstory of the town pretty over-dramatic. I know, it’s a treasure-hunt adventure story but…is it even physically possible to stab someone with a mammoth tusk? I couldn’t visualize that. And exactly why some weird events involving a few people from a hundred years ago was still worth killing for kind of flew over my head. Surely all these wealthy people wouldn’t immediately be ruined if somebody found out something.
And it wasn’t just the big picture stuff, either. There were odd things popping up every few chapters that kind of broke my immersion. Why exactly was there a secret WWI hideout in the lighthouse cellar? Why did Lydia’s dad try to convince her not to dump her boyfriend after she saw him drunkenly almost murder someone? (Also, why was that someone at that party to start with?) How come nobody ever thought to call an ambulance? Like, ever? As in, why, when the one guy got shot, did they call the now-ex-boyfriend who had also tried to assault a Lydia at this point, to drive across town and take them to the hospital when ambulances are literally a thing?
And…the crazy prepper guy on Apocalypse Island with the dogs and the elaborate booby-traps…why?
So, on to my second point. I had heard a lot of people calling this a clean alternative to Outer Banks. I didn’t know much about OBX, so I casually looked it up. The description that pops up goes like this: A teenager enlists his three best friends to hunt for a legendary treasure linked to his father’s disappearance. This exact verbiage could be used to describe Mammoth. That might be okay, but it doesn’t stop there.
Okay, so both mc’s fathers were lost in mysterious boating accidents. That’s okay too. Both stories begin after a storm which is fine. We quickly learn in OBX that the rich people are “Kooks” and the poor people are “Pogues” and there’s quite a bit of friction between them. Oh. That’s where that came from.
I casually typed OBX into the search bar on Pinterest. Pictures of the main cast came up and…they look exactly like the character cards that came with the book. With a little research I found out it wasn’t just looks either. They also have the same personalities, backgrounds and roles in the story. And it’s not just them. There are a lot of very similar characters in the B-cast as well. (Including the jerk boyfriend.)
The more I researched about OBX the more similarities I discovered. Just seeing screenshots and gifsets on Pinterest, I found dialogue and narration that was extremely close. (Once a Bird, always a Bird = Once a Pogue always a Pogue, etc.) It’s really way too much to feel creatively integrous. But this review is already too long.
I’m not saying anyone’s wrong for enjoying this book. I might suggest, though, that you don’t take cues from it on how to write a story “inspired” by another copyright-protected work. It’s walking the line a bit, I think.
So, I snatched this book up because fossils, mysteries, treasure-hunts. You know. I like that kind of thing. The setting had promise—the Pacific Northwest. There was an abandoned lighthouse….
And then the story started. Right off the bat, the whole class-struggle between the “Bluecoats” (rich people) and the “Jailbirds” (poor people) seemed weird. It didn’t sound like anything that would happen in the modern-day real-world in an actual town in the US where people could visit—or leave if they wanted. I mean, classism kind of exists, but I had never heard of people making up cool-sounding nicknames for each other and randomly punching each other out in public places just because one was part of a weird “ruling class” and the other wasn’t. It doesn’t happen in my town, but maybe we’re an oddity.
I also found the backstory of the town pretty over-dramatic. I know, it’s a treasure-hunt adventure story but…is it even physically possible to stab someone with a mammoth tusk? I couldn’t visualize that. And exactly why some weird events involving a few people from a hundred years ago was still worth killing for kind of flew over my head. Surely all these wealthy people wouldn’t immediately be ruined if somebody found out something.
And it wasn’t just the big picture stuff, either. There were odd things popping up every few chapters that kind of broke my immersion. Why exactly was there a secret WWI hideout in the lighthouse cellar? Why did Lydia’s dad try to convince her not to dump her boyfriend after she saw him drunkenly almost murder someone? (Also, why was that someone at that party to start with?) How come nobody ever thought to call an ambulance? Like, ever? As in, why, when the one guy got shot, did they call the now-ex-boyfriend who had also tried to assault a Lydia at this point, to drive across town and take them to the hospital when ambulances are literally a thing?
And…the crazy prepper guy on Apocalypse Island with the dogs and the elaborate booby-traps…why?
So, on to my second point. I had heard a lot of people calling this a clean alternative to Outer Banks. I didn’t know much about OBX, so I casually looked it up. The description that pops up goes like this: A teenager enlists his three best friends to hunt for a legendary treasure linked to his father’s disappearance. This exact verbiage could be used to describe Mammoth. That might be okay, but it doesn’t stop there.
Okay, so both mc’s fathers were lost in mysterious boating accidents. That’s okay too. Both stories begin after a storm which is fine. We quickly learn in OBX that the rich people are “Kooks” and the poor people are “Pogues” and there’s quite a bit of friction between them. Oh. That’s where that came from.
I casually typed OBX into the search bar on Pinterest. Pictures of the main cast came up and…they look exactly like the character cards that came with the book. With a little research I found out it wasn’t just looks either. They also have the same personalities, backgrounds and roles in the story. And it’s not just them. There are a lot of very similar characters in the B-cast as well. (Including the jerk boyfriend.)
The more I researched about OBX the more similarities I discovered. Just seeing screenshots and gifsets on Pinterest, I found dialogue and narration that was extremely close. (Once a Bird, always a Bird = Once a Pogue always a Pogue, etc.) It’s really way too much to feel creatively integrous. But this review is already too long.
I’m not saying anyone’s wrong for enjoying this book. I might suggest, though, that you don’t take cues from it on how to write a story “inspired” by another copyright-protected work. It’s walking the line a bit, I think.
August 25, 2022
I'm going to be very honest. I had 0 plans for reading this book when the author first began posting about it. It's not my usual genre or style.
However, when I saw the final cover (which I'm still spending way too much time gazing at with adoration) my interest was excited and after seeing multiple friends gush about it, I bought a copy.
This book is the perfect blend of NATIONAL TREASURE and INDIANA JONES. It's very artistically designed and formatted, which made my creative heart very happy to flip through. It's also set up in a way that it's supposed to read like watching a TV show. (Which, by the way, would make an awesome show. LOST IN SPACE fans, watch out!) As a result, I tended to read it in sections, "episode" by "episode", which, along with a currently busy schedule, made for slower reading. However, once the action started to race ahead faster than I could ignore, I ended up staying up until 1 AM finishing it.
This book is very...detailed. If I had to describe it one word, that's probably the best word for it. The settings and characters and action are consequently very vivid and easy to picture (just like watching it on a screen, just make it 4k minus the fact I didn't personally get punched or rained on while reading, thankfully). There were times when I felt the details bogged down the plot, but it wasn't significant to distract from my reading; I only noticed it occasionally. I enjoyed the story concept, the characters, and the banter. It took me a while to keep track of who everyone was lookswise, but otherwise I remembered who they were. I appreciated how the author didn't shy away from the dark reality that is many kids' early adulthood, but also didn't dive off the deep end and be explicit either. It was very refreshing to be able to read without a pen in hand to censor stuff I didn't want to read later (or other people to read, for that matter).
This is definitely not my typical genre for reading, but I really enjoyed this story and am super excited for book two. I needed TITAN like...yesterday? Last week?
However, when I saw the final cover (which I'm still spending way too much time gazing at with adoration) my interest was excited and after seeing multiple friends gush about it, I bought a copy.
This book is the perfect blend of NATIONAL TREASURE and INDIANA JONES. It's very artistically designed and formatted, which made my creative heart very happy to flip through. It's also set up in a way that it's supposed to read like watching a TV show. (Which, by the way, would make an awesome show. LOST IN SPACE fans, watch out!) As a result, I tended to read it in sections, "episode" by "episode", which, along with a currently busy schedule, made for slower reading. However, once the action started to race ahead faster than I could ignore, I ended up staying up until 1 AM finishing it.
This book is very...detailed. If I had to describe it one word, that's probably the best word for it. The settings and characters and action are consequently very vivid and easy to picture (just like watching it on a screen, just make it 4k minus the fact I didn't personally get punched or rained on while reading, thankfully). There were times when I felt the details bogged down the plot, but it wasn't significant to distract from my reading; I only noticed it occasionally. I enjoyed the story concept, the characters, and the banter. It took me a while to keep track of who everyone was lookswise, but otherwise I remembered who they were. I appreciated how the author didn't shy away from the dark reality that is many kids' early adulthood, but also didn't dive off the deep end and be explicit either. It was very refreshing to be able to read without a pen in hand to censor stuff I didn't want to read later (or other people to read, for that matter).
This is definitely not my typical genre for reading, but I really enjoyed this story and am super excited for book two. I needed TITAN like...yesterday? Last week?
July 4, 2022
Recommended for 16+ 🦣|| Content Meter: 3/5 🦣|| Quality Meter: 9/10 🦣|| Personal Enjoyment: 10 🦣|| Overall: 10/10 🦣
The Story || This book was everything it promised to be 😭 Action, mystery, found family, desperation and heart-tugging friendships, ah! It's indie gold! I love Hardy Boys; I love rag-tag misfits; and I love a good mood read. Mammoth is all of that and more! Few books are just so good that I just want to cry happy tears, but this book made my reader and writer self so happy I nearly cried multiple times! In fact, I hadn't even finished Theo ebook before purchasing my hardcopy! Do yourself a favor and grab a copy today!🦣
The Aesthetic || This book is a moody book; storms, lighthouses, coastlines, paleontology, grunge but in a cool way 🤣 Leather jackets, beater cars, all-stars and starry skies. Caves, dirt, skinned knees and salt water...🦣
The Writing || The skill of Mr. McBride was hard to miss. The entire story screamed with subtle details, heavy Aesthetics, excellent world-building and loveable (and hate-able) characters. Mammoth and it's populace are real in my heart and mind. And that takes talent! I only found one flaw and it's slightly spoiler, so DM me for details!🦣
The Vibe || This book gives a vibe of closeness, desperation, love and passion for truth. Also a strong eighties/nineties feel that I adore and I'm not usually huge on this. I haven't read this book yet, but this is the vibe I think of when I think of The Outsiders. Also a strong X-Men vibe without the mutations. Idk, it's a mood and I love it. 🦣
The Content || Murder, blood/violence ; shooting, drugs; mention of a guy sleeping with someone; boyfriend tries to force his girlfriend; scriptures are not KJV, mild language; Kissing; biracial marriage mentioned; abuse of a child; alcohol; fist fights; dysfunctional families; run aways; cigarettes;🦣
|| I received a review copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own. ||
Have you read Mammoth?
The Story || This book was everything it promised to be 😭 Action, mystery, found family, desperation and heart-tugging friendships, ah! It's indie gold! I love Hardy Boys; I love rag-tag misfits; and I love a good mood read. Mammoth is all of that and more! Few books are just so good that I just want to cry happy tears, but this book made my reader and writer self so happy I nearly cried multiple times! In fact, I hadn't even finished Theo ebook before purchasing my hardcopy! Do yourself a favor and grab a copy today!🦣
The Aesthetic || This book is a moody book; storms, lighthouses, coastlines, paleontology, grunge but in a cool way 🤣 Leather jackets, beater cars, all-stars and starry skies. Caves, dirt, skinned knees and salt water...🦣
The Writing || The skill of Mr. McBride was hard to miss. The entire story screamed with subtle details, heavy Aesthetics, excellent world-building and loveable (and hate-able) characters. Mammoth and it's populace are real in my heart and mind. And that takes talent! I only found one flaw and it's slightly spoiler, so DM me for details!🦣
The Vibe || This book gives a vibe of closeness, desperation, love and passion for truth. Also a strong eighties/nineties feel that I adore and I'm not usually huge on this. I haven't read this book yet, but this is the vibe I think of when I think of The Outsiders. Also a strong X-Men vibe without the mutations. Idk, it's a mood and I love it. 🦣
The Content || Murder, blood/violence ; shooting, drugs; mention of a guy sleeping with someone; boyfriend tries to force his girlfriend; scriptures are not KJV, mild language; Kissing; biracial marriage mentioned; abuse of a child; alcohol; fist fights; dysfunctional families; run aways; cigarettes;🦣
|| I received a review copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own. ||
Have you read Mammoth?
May 27, 2023
I'm having so many mixed feelings about this book it's not even funny...I'm thinking 3 or 3.5 stars on the ratings, and this review might be a touch on the long side, so grab a chair.
Also, there might be a slight spoiler or two that slipped in, but I don't want to hide the whole review. Read at your risk.
Characters:
Wow! Lots of characters... which made it hard for me to settle on one that I really loved because we were bouncing around so much.
Tommy is the main MC. Most of the story revolves around him even in other POVs. I liked him, but with so many other POVs, it was hard...
Maya was sweet...to her friends were very disrespectful of her parents.
Jude was such a sweet guy and funny. it might have been my favorite.
Mars was...I thought I was going to like him, and then I ended up not knowing what to think.
Lydia was...I dunno. She was supposed to be a Christian, but then some of her behavior was like...*shrugs* not lining up.
Reid, I thought I would have a redemption arch... but there wasn't one. Maybe in book 2?
Then we had several characters that appeared for a while here and there, parents, police, family, etc...
I also got a little turned around a few times by Oliver, Orion, Oswald, and Othniel....so many O names that usually came up together...lol...but maybe that was just me.
Language:
No language...
Content:
I don't normally have this section, but there were a lot of mentions of drinking, being drunk, drugs, needing a fix, and sleeping with each other, and more was implied. Plus, there's a scene where a side character tries to get one of the main characters to make out and more...
Also murder, thought not super detailed, but there was one that was... a lot. Like one of the charries witnesses it.
Romance:
Kisses and implies that other people are doing other things, but it's never described.
Some random unorganized thoughts:
I liked the story concept. Honestly, I thought that was super cool! Some aspects felt unbelievable. The main concept of the story was super cool, and the mystery and scavenger hunt of sorts to figure it out was super cool!
Some things I didn't find super believable were gunmen chasing the Jailbirds around a town that was supposedly small... like that would attract a lot of attention and incite a lot of panic...
Why no one called an ambulance when people got hurt or the police when being chased...*shrugs* Sometimes I think I'm too practical...lol... call me crazy if you want. But an ambulance seems like a better idea than calling the ex who...yeah, spoiler, so I can't say, but it didn't make sense to me.
Then, there was the whole separation of the different classes of the people that seemed really tense. We have that here, like the town is separated into communities, and those in town tend to look down on us in the outlying communities, but it's not violent... more like a lofty cold shoulder treatment. That aspect felt sort of futuristic or medievalish to me. Maybe some towns ate actually like that...dunno.
We also didn't really see any families that weren't dysfunctional...Mars had the best family, but we only saw his parents for very brief moments, and everyone else had horribly dysfunctional families...like wow! Except Maya...her family seemed just kind of old fashioned make a name for yourself, support yourself type of family...maybe a bit controlling but I hated that she just severed ties and didn't try to work things out with them. *sighs*
When people got hurt like it was there for a bit and then forgotten about... that always bothers me... like really bothers. One character got shot and then was running around the woods no problem the next day.
One character got beaten to a pulp and then was riding a bike around the next day... and I'm just skeptical. Another character got hurt, like pretty bad, but it amidst the action at the end it just got swept under the rug and was never mentioned again and he was running around doing all sorts of crazy things too...
Overall:
If the wound thing is not a pet peeve of yours...lol...then this book is really pretty good. It's definitely New Adult and has a lot of mentions of partying and such... which aren't really addressed as wrong, persay...so I'd recommend for firmly rooted people.
I enjoyed the action and adventure and the mystery, and I'm going to read book 2 one day...lol... and probably book 3. But yeah, mixed thoughts on some aspects of the book. But overall, the concept was good and the story intruging...compared to most people, I'm probably being knitpicky.
Also, there might be a slight spoiler or two that slipped in, but I don't want to hide the whole review. Read at your risk.
Characters:
Wow! Lots of characters... which made it hard for me to settle on one that I really loved because we were bouncing around so much.
Tommy is the main MC. Most of the story revolves around him even in other POVs. I liked him, but with so many other POVs, it was hard...
Maya was sweet...to her friends were very disrespectful of her parents.
Jude was such a sweet guy and funny. it might have been my favorite.
Mars was...I thought I was going to like him, and then I ended up not knowing what to think.
Lydia was...I dunno. She was supposed to be a Christian, but then some of her behavior was like...*shrugs* not lining up.
Reid, I thought I would have a redemption arch... but there wasn't one. Maybe in book 2?
Then we had several characters that appeared for a while here and there, parents, police, family, etc...
I also got a little turned around a few times by Oliver, Orion, Oswald, and Othniel....so many O names that usually came up together...lol...but maybe that was just me.
Language:
No language...
Content:
I don't normally have this section, but there were a lot of mentions of drinking, being drunk, drugs, needing a fix, and sleeping with each other, and more was implied. Plus, there's a scene where a side character tries to get one of the main characters to make out and more...
Also murder, thought not super detailed, but there was one that was... a lot. Like one of the charries witnesses it.
Romance:
Kisses and implies that other people are doing other things, but it's never described.
Some random unorganized thoughts:
I liked the story concept. Honestly, I thought that was super cool! Some aspects felt unbelievable. The main concept of the story was super cool, and the mystery and scavenger hunt of sorts to figure it out was super cool!
Some things I didn't find super believable were gunmen chasing the Jailbirds around a town that was supposedly small... like that would attract a lot of attention and incite a lot of panic...
Why no one called an ambulance when people got hurt or the police when being chased...*shrugs* Sometimes I think I'm too practical...lol... call me crazy if you want. But an ambulance seems like a better idea than calling the ex who...yeah, spoiler, so I can't say, but it didn't make sense to me.
Then, there was the whole separation of the different classes of the people that seemed really tense. We have that here, like the town is separated into communities, and those in town tend to look down on us in the outlying communities, but it's not violent... more like a lofty cold shoulder treatment. That aspect felt sort of futuristic or medievalish to me. Maybe some towns ate actually like that...dunno.
We also didn't really see any families that weren't dysfunctional...Mars had the best family, but we only saw his parents for very brief moments, and everyone else had horribly dysfunctional families...like wow! Except Maya...her family seemed just kind of old fashioned make a name for yourself, support yourself type of family...maybe a bit controlling but I hated that she just severed ties and didn't try to work things out with them. *sighs*
When people got hurt like it was there for a bit and then forgotten about... that always bothers me... like really bothers. One character got shot and then was running around the woods no problem the next day.
One character got beaten to a pulp and then was riding a bike around the next day... and I'm just skeptical. Another character got hurt, like pretty bad, but it amidst the action at the end it just got swept under the rug and was never mentioned again and he was running around doing all sorts of crazy things too...
Overall:
If the wound thing is not a pet peeve of yours...lol...then this book is really pretty good. It's definitely New Adult and has a lot of mentions of partying and such... which aren't really addressed as wrong, persay...so I'd recommend for firmly rooted people.
I enjoyed the action and adventure and the mystery, and I'm going to read book 2 one day...lol... and probably book 3. But yeah, mixed thoughts on some aspects of the book. But overall, the concept was good and the story intruging...compared to most people, I'm probably being knitpicky.
May 6, 2022
"You've never been a nobody. Not to me. Not to us."
I fell in love with Brian McBride's "We The Wild Things" last year, but the minute I heard the "Mammoth" pitch, I had a feeling I was going to love it even more. I was correct.
I've always been obsessed with adventure stories, but sprinkle in some found/chosen family and an atmospheric Pacific Northwest town, it's pure magic. It has the feeling of watching a show that's going to be a new favorite. The pacing was perfect, everything building to an epic face-off, the stakes getting higher and higher as the plot deepens. The characters go through struggles and triumphs, facing their own inner demons but still having moments of light that make it nearly impossible not to fall in love with them. The vibes are impeccable, the descriptions flawless, not once did I want to put the book down, I had to know what happened next.
Basically it was perfect, it's going to live rent free in my mind for a good long time, I am obsessed.
It does earn its PG-13 rating with some of the circumstances the characters go through and for some violence, though there's no language or explicit content.
Five stars from me!
**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
I fell in love with Brian McBride's "We The Wild Things" last year, but the minute I heard the "Mammoth" pitch, I had a feeling I was going to love it even more. I was correct.
I've always been obsessed with adventure stories, but sprinkle in some found/chosen family and an atmospheric Pacific Northwest town, it's pure magic. It has the feeling of watching a show that's going to be a new favorite. The pacing was perfect, everything building to an epic face-off, the stakes getting higher and higher as the plot deepens. The characters go through struggles and triumphs, facing their own inner demons but still having moments of light that make it nearly impossible not to fall in love with them. The vibes are impeccable, the descriptions flawless, not once did I want to put the book down, I had to know what happened next.
Basically it was perfect, it's going to live rent free in my mind for a good long time, I am obsessed.
It does earn its PG-13 rating with some of the circumstances the characters go through and for some violence, though there's no language or explicit content.
Five stars from me!
**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
Read
June 20, 2025DNF on page 130. Although the book isn't marketed as Christian fiction, it is written by a Christian and I was a little surprised by the amount of substance abuse and implied sexual promiscuity in the 25% that I read, and according to other reviews only continues and gets worse throughout the rest of the book.
I was enjoying some of the characters and intrigued by the mystery, but a scene where a POV character and his friends are discussing getting a girl drunk so she'll drop her Christian morals about saving sex for marriage finally made me realize there was no reason to continue reading something that upset me.
I was enjoying some of the characters and intrigued by the mystery, but a scene where a POV character and his friends are discussing getting a girl drunk so she'll drop her Christian morals about saving sex for marriage finally made me realize there was no reason to continue reading something that upset me.
October 26, 2024
Ok, this is a bit outside of my usual genre, but I really enjoyed this contemporary YA adventure story. I enjoyed the characters, although I was a bit concerned by there being 6 POVs right at the beginning. Despite the number of POVs, I felt like I got to know the characters well enough to enjoy their stories. Their backstories are richly told, and it was wonderful to see them support each other through difficult times. The dialogue amongst them is indicative of longstanding friendships where both teasing and truth are welcome. I am kind of picky about dialogue, and I found it very well done.
This has Indiana Jones vibes, and despite there being some dramatic and unrealistic aspects, it’s way more believable than an Indy movie.🤭 The found family trope is used here in a beautiful way, highlighting honest and loyal friendships that cross socioeconomic and gender barriers. The budding romances are sweet and kept to subplots, which was nice. There is a Christian thread woven through the story, but it is not a part of the plotline.
Some critiques would be that I found the characters a bit difficult to picture. I know Maya is Latina and has curly hair & Lydia has bushy hair. Tommy’s hair is long, I think, and, unfortunately, apparently dirty.(🤷♀️) Mars is black. I really don’t know how else to picture them. (And I wish Tommy’s hair wasn’t dirty.🫣)
I also would want to see these 18/19-year-olds grow into some life goals. (Perhaps that is coming in a future installment.) Only one of these teens has plans to continue his education, and the rest have no direction. They are a great group of young adults who need to pull it together and figure out how they are going to support themselves. (Honestly, they could start a detective agency and be quite successful at it!)
CW: The author puts this at a PG-13 rating, and I agree with that based on my own PG-13 standards. According to Hollywood, however, it would be closer to PG. The negative elements in the story are presented as negative: promiscuity, drug/alcohol use, prejudice, criminal behavior. None of these are gratuitous in their descriptions. (The most described element would be the drug/alcohol use by one of our POVs.) I don’t think there was any foul language, if I remember correctly. Most of the parents of our POVs are not exactly wonderful role models. It isn’t presented as pervasive among parents in general, though, and it does provide our characters with some real-life, deep-seated issues to work through. Depending on the teen, I would recommend for 14+.
This has Indiana Jones vibes, and despite there being some dramatic and unrealistic aspects, it’s way more believable than an Indy movie.🤭 The found family trope is used here in a beautiful way, highlighting honest and loyal friendships that cross socioeconomic and gender barriers. The budding romances are sweet and kept to subplots, which was nice. There is a Christian thread woven through the story, but it is not a part of the plotline.
Some critiques would be that I found the characters a bit difficult to picture. I know Maya is Latina and has curly hair & Lydia has bushy hair. Tommy’s hair is long, I think, and, unfortunately, apparently dirty.(🤷♀️) Mars is black. I really don’t know how else to picture them. (And I wish Tommy’s hair wasn’t dirty.🫣)
I also would want to see these 18/19-year-olds grow into some life goals. (Perhaps that is coming in a future installment.) Only one of these teens has plans to continue his education, and the rest have no direction. They are a great group of young adults who need to pull it together and figure out how they are going to support themselves. (Honestly, they could start a detective agency and be quite successful at it!)
CW: The author puts this at a PG-13 rating, and I agree with that based on my own PG-13 standards. According to Hollywood, however, it would be closer to PG. The negative elements in the story are presented as negative: promiscuity, drug/alcohol use, prejudice, criminal behavior. None of these are gratuitous in their descriptions. (The most described element would be the drug/alcohol use by one of our POVs.) I don’t think there was any foul language, if I remember correctly. Most of the parents of our POVs are not exactly wonderful role models. It isn’t presented as pervasive among parents in general, though, and it does provide our characters with some real-life, deep-seated issues to work through. Depending on the teen, I would recommend for 14+.
April 1, 2022
WOW! WOW! WOW!
That was incredible! I know that I probably sound over-excited but that climax was one of the best that I have seen in awhile.
But let's back up and start at the beginning. McBride spent the first portion of the novel setting the mood and atmosphere. As a result, I got immersed into the story and didn't put the book down all day. The beginning also showed a lot about the characters and who they were. Although this story is told from MANY perspectives, each is unique enough that I never got lost or confused--something I am prone to do. (I have to admit that Tommy and Jude are my favorite characters.)
As the story progressed, so did the mystery. I found that it was very well done and really appreciated the unique aspects of it.
I'm back to the climax, but it was the perfect combination of adventure and thriller. There were numerous times where I was shocked by the plot twists.
I highly recommend this book to older teens and up (personally I would call this NA) as well as anyone who loves a good thrill with a dash of adventure. Just be prepared for a cliffhanger though. :)
Tropes: found family, childhood friends to more
Content: lots and lots of fighting, abusive parents (multiple characters), murder, drug use (not by main characters), alcoholism (also not main characters), attempted date rape, characters shot, death of parent, kissing
5 Stars
*I received a copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.
That was incredible! I know that I probably sound over-excited but that climax was one of the best that I have seen in awhile.
But let's back up and start at the beginning. McBride spent the first portion of the novel setting the mood and atmosphere. As a result, I got immersed into the story and didn't put the book down all day. The beginning also showed a lot about the characters and who they were. Although this story is told from MANY perspectives, each is unique enough that I never got lost or confused--something I am prone to do. (I have to admit that Tommy and Jude are my favorite characters.)
As the story progressed, so did the mystery. I found that it was very well done and really appreciated the unique aspects of it.
I'm back to the climax, but it was the perfect combination of adventure and thriller. There were numerous times where I was shocked by the plot twists.
I highly recommend this book to older teens and up (personally I would call this NA) as well as anyone who loves a good thrill with a dash of adventure. Just be prepared for a cliffhanger though. :)
Tropes: found family, childhood friends to more
Content: lots and lots of fighting, abusive parents (multiple characters), murder, drug use (not by main characters), alcoholism (also not main characters), attempted date rape, characters shot, death of parent, kissing
5 Stars
*I received a copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.
March 19, 2022
Man oh man what a RUSH! McBride grabs you from the first chapter and drops you into the beautifully chaotic world of Mammoth, where nothing is as it seems.
•
From the first, I loved the foursome of AJ, Tommy, Kara, and Mars. Their family like dynamic bled through the page and just had me rooting from them. Their humor helped soften the hard topics McBride wasn’t afraid to tackle and I LOVED it.
•
And the action doesn’t pause. From a treasure hunt to a mystery needing to be solved, the pace never slowed. By the last fifty pages, your heart is going a mile a minute and you can’t wait to find out what is going to happen next.
•
All in all, an AMAZING contemporary read! I can’t wait for the next book, and will definitely be checking out more of Brian McBride’s books!
•
Five stars 🌟
•
From the first, I loved the foursome of AJ, Tommy, Kara, and Mars. Their family like dynamic bled through the page and just had me rooting from them. Their humor helped soften the hard topics McBride wasn’t afraid to tackle and I LOVED it.
•
And the action doesn’t pause. From a treasure hunt to a mystery needing to be solved, the pace never slowed. By the last fifty pages, your heart is going a mile a minute and you can’t wait to find out what is going to happen next.
•
All in all, an AMAZING contemporary read! I can’t wait for the next book, and will definitely be checking out more of Brian McBride’s books!
•
Five stars 🌟
April 20, 2022
Man oh man what a RUSH! McBride grabs you from the first chapter and drops you into the beautifully chaotic world of Mammoth, where nothing is as it seems.
•
From the first, I loved the foursome of AJ, Tommy, Kara, and Mars. Their family like dynamic bled through the page and just had me rooting from them. Their humor helped soften the hard topics McBride wasn’t afraid to tackle and I LOVED it.
•
And the action doesn’t pause. From a treasure hunt to a mystery needing to be solved, the pace never slowed. By the last fifty pages, your heart is going a mile a minute and you can’t wait to find out what is going to happen next.
•
All in all, an AMAZING contemporary read! I can’t wait for the next book, and will definitely be checking out more of Brian McBride’s books!
•
Five stars 🌟
•
From the first, I loved the foursome of AJ, Tommy, Kara, and Mars. Their family like dynamic bled through the page and just had me rooting from them. Their humor helped soften the hard topics McBride wasn’t afraid to tackle and I LOVED it.
•
And the action doesn’t pause. From a treasure hunt to a mystery needing to be solved, the pace never slowed. By the last fifty pages, your heart is going a mile a minute and you can’t wait to find out what is going to happen next.
•
All in all, an AMAZING contemporary read! I can’t wait for the next book, and will definitely be checking out more of Brian McBride’s books!
•
Five stars 🌟
November 9, 2022
4.5 Stars!
First off, that cover is incredible! I admit it’s what drew me in! Second, this book had all the best vibes from The Outsiders to The Goonies to Nancy Drew and I was 100% here for it.
Mammoth definitely lived up to the hype! From the setting/atmosphere to the murder mystery to the characters. As a fan of the found family trope, I loved the dynamic of the Jailbirds and the way they stuck together. (Jude is my favorite! I absolutely love him!)
The only thing that keeps me from giving a full five stars is I found myself confused at a few spots and had to go back and reread previous scenes to see if I had missed something. But it wasn’t enough of a deterrent to remove a whole star in my opinion!
(That ending! I need the second book now!)
First off, that cover is incredible! I admit it’s what drew me in! Second, this book had all the best vibes from The Outsiders to The Goonies to Nancy Drew and I was 100% here for it.
Mammoth definitely lived up to the hype! From the setting/atmosphere to the murder mystery to the characters. As a fan of the found family trope, I loved the dynamic of the Jailbirds and the way they stuck together. (Jude is my favorite! I absolutely love him!)
The only thing that keeps me from giving a full five stars is I found myself confused at a few spots and had to go back and reread previous scenes to see if I had missed something. But it wasn’t enough of a deterrent to remove a whole star in my opinion!
(That ending! I need the second book now!)
April 2, 2022
Mammoth is one of those stories that I didn’t even know I wanted until I read it—it’s also unlike any other novel I’ve ever read. The vibes of Mammoth remind of Indiana Jones, The Outsiders, all the Enid Blyton adventure books I read as a child, and Mystery Lights of Navajo Mesa (a Last Chance Detectives story). But Mammoth is also its own, unique story. Although there isn’t even a hint of magic in the story, the phrase that keeps popping into my mind when I think of Mammoth is ‘urban fantasy.’ There is a heightened sense of reality about this novel, one that turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. Storms rage, the sea churns, and adventure awaits.
At the heart of Mammoth is its cast of characters. Tommy, grappling with the sudden death of his father. Maya, growing up well-to-do, but at odds with her life and her mom. Jude, doing everything he can to protect his little brother and break the generational cycle of violence and hatred. Mars, a sometimes unwilling—yet always loyal—participant in his friends’ adventures. And Lydia, whose heart breaks for the injustices committed by her brother Reid. These characters grabbed me and I was surprised to find myself tearing up over some of them—mainly Tommy and Jude. (Surprised, because I didn’t expect an adventure/treasure hunt novel to evoke such emotion. XD)
There were a couple things I didn’t love about Mammoth: the villains’ motivations and plans didn’t always make total sense to me (and neither did the events that happened a hundred years in the past, specifically why a certain horrific slaughter took place). Part of my confusion was probably because I read Mammoth so quickly, but I do think certain things could have been explained with more clarity. And then, I had a certain expectation for the last few chapters of the book that didn’t come true. (Basically, there was an antagonistic character that I expected/hoped would turn out to be an ally after all—and it didn’t happen.) That’s a purely personal thing, of course, and most of you guys probably won’t even think of that character the way I did. 😉
Mammoth sucks you into a world of treasure hunts, class divides, salt seas, brave characters, and secrets—so many secrets. Highly recommended to those looking for a gripping, high-stakes adventure novel.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
At the heart of Mammoth is its cast of characters. Tommy, grappling with the sudden death of his father. Maya, growing up well-to-do, but at odds with her life and her mom. Jude, doing everything he can to protect his little brother and break the generational cycle of violence and hatred. Mars, a sometimes unwilling—yet always loyal—participant in his friends’ adventures. And Lydia, whose heart breaks for the injustices committed by her brother Reid. These characters grabbed me and I was surprised to find myself tearing up over some of them—mainly Tommy and Jude. (Surprised, because I didn’t expect an adventure/treasure hunt novel to evoke such emotion. XD)
There were a couple things I didn’t love about Mammoth: the villains’ motivations and plans didn’t always make total sense to me (and neither did the events that happened a hundred years in the past, specifically why a certain horrific slaughter took place). Part of my confusion was probably because I read Mammoth so quickly, but I do think certain things could have been explained with more clarity. And then, I had a certain expectation for the last few chapters of the book that didn’t come true. (Basically, there was an antagonistic character that I expected/hoped would turn out to be an ally after all—and it didn’t happen.) That’s a purely personal thing, of course, and most of you guys probably won’t even think of that character the way I did. 😉
Mammoth sucks you into a world of treasure hunts, class divides, salt seas, brave characters, and secrets—so many secrets. Highly recommended to those looking for a gripping, high-stakes adventure novel.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 24, 2023
"Gotta be honest,” said Jude, “for all the bad that’s happened in my life, there’s too much good that’s come of it for me to spend too much time focusing on the things I wish had been different.”
Mammoth can be most closely described as Hardy Boys meets Nancy Drew meets Leepike Ridge meets Jurassic Park meets National Treasure meets Red Rock Mysteries meets Indiana Jones meets a smidge of West Side Story. So if you’re a fan of any of the above, or just gripping adventure stories in general, this tale is probably up your alley.
May I say first of all: this cover is incredible and perfect for this story. The atmospheric descriptions of Mammoth are immaculate, mixing the rainy and stormy Pacific Northwest with shadowed nighttime with mysterious small-town treasure-hunting. The author also uniquely splits the book’s short seventy-two chapters into 8 titled “episodes,” making it feel like the first season of a mystery TV show.
In the tradition of stories like the Hardy Boys, the storyline requires frequent suspension of disbelief, which isn’t necessarily detrimental to enjoying the story. Personally I did often find myself confused about the plot elements, so I couldn’t sink into the story like I wanted to. With the characters, too, I didn’t fully understand their personalities and couldn’t always grasp how their behavior lined up with their beliefs. (Also a small thing, a little aspect to the characters, but I sometimes felt a bit uncomfortable with the way the guy characters could treat Maya, such as Jude punching her in the shin to enhance a joke he made.) I was also a little confused about some of the Christian elements because they’re just kind of…there? I suppose I was wondering why Lydia’s faith was mentioned a few scattered times if nothing more came from it.
But the characters are still the heart and soul of the story. For one thing, the author does an absolutely excellent job balancing different point-of-views. Having different POVs can be a tricky spot, but every perspective is wonderfully intriguing and never interrupts the flow of the story. And the characters’ behavior doesn’t always make sense, but they’re messy and unpredictable, paradoxical and confusing, uncomfortable and shocking and wonderful in the way that real people are. They’re scarred and torn from their various traumas, but they’re still fighters, spitting blood and staggering to their feet no matter how many times they’re knocked down, raising clenched fists to fight tooth and nail for truth and justice.
For fans of tense adventure stories with perfect vibes and a familiarity born of the beloved, long-standing mystery-adventure tradition, visiting the town of Mammoth, Washington, with the Jailbirds just might fit the bill.
🦣 content: violence, including blood and murder. References to young adults drinking, dabbling in drug use, and sleeping around. Jude jokingly suggests playing strip poker to stay entertained during a storm. Maya’s mother apparently wanted to abort her. Lydia’s boyfriend tries to get her to have sex with him (kissing, shedding some of his clothing, and reaching to unzip the back of her dress).The Jailbirds (three guys and one girl) sleep in the same room on a few different occasions (completely non-sexual). Jude’s father is an abusive alcoholic. Mars makes a joke about Graham being Reid’s boyfriend. Characters kiss. 🦣
(Also I have to mention that the last page of the book following the acknowledgements contains a book rating, Fiction PG-13 Adventure, and honestly it would be fantastic if every book had that.)
March 28, 2022
Mammoth is a heart-pounding episodic adventure filled with twists, turns, and a fun dose of paleontology. Its vibrant characters and intricate backstories come together as a thrilling, gritty mystery sure to keep you turning pages. If you grew up with a love for Nancy Drew, treasure hunts, and secret rooms, this book is for you!
I had so much fun reading this book! I really loved everything about it! Definitely 5-stars
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I had so much fun reading this book! I really loved everything about it! Definitely 5-stars
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2025
*4.75*
Pay no attention to Goodreads dates. I finished this book in one day…and it was as worth it.
Let me start off by saying the Brian McBride is an excellent author. His writing style is amazing, and I love how he was able to write his characters.
Tommy: By far he was my favorite character with one other, but I really enjoyed following his story as he tries to rewrite his father’s legacy. The hunt for fossils and journals combined with found family and the start a romance really enhanced his character. He saw the best in people even after all he’s been through.
Lydia: She is also my favorite character. I loved the pureness of her heart even after she faced heartbreak, loss, and the idiot shall not be named until later. Her longing for something better drove her to the Jailbirds and helped her discover what she truly wanted. She was brave in her own way.
Jude and Maya and Mars: Yes, I’m lumping the last of the Jailbirds together. I really loved Jude. His sarcasm and wit was hilarious. But really, it was there to cover up something much darker. The strained relationship with his father and his love for his brother drove him. But really, the Jailbirds are his family. Maya was hilarious as well, but in a different way. Like most of the characters, she had issues with her parents, but she still was able to hold her own. I loved seeing how well she integrated with the boys of the Jailbirds, but remained feminine. Mars, well, he took a while to grow on me. I wasn’t for sure where his arc was going, but the ending!?!?? Send help. He, I feel, was the most levelheaded between family and the Jailbirds, but even then he struggled with so much.
Reid, Quincy, and Graham (🤮🤢): Quincy was annoying and only cared for the pleasures in life, but that’s his character. Reid, I still feel like there’s more to Reid. I liked him in the beginning, but things change. I hope it ends better than it started for him. He’s broken and just needs a family (and God). Graham, the doodie-head. He was trouble from the beginning. And then pulling that idiotic move. Yeah, it’s gonna take a miracle for me to like him if redemption comes his way.
Another thing that I enjoyed was the subtle faith content. Mentions of church and purity and the importance of God.
I loved the aesthetic and adventurous spirit of this book and I cannot wait to continue.
Content: violence (semidetailed), storms, abuse, h word used literally (one instance that I could disagree with, but readers discretion), sl*t, romance and kissing (up to semidetailed), a character attempts to force another character to go beyond her boundaries while in a relationship (it gets stopped before too much happens, but some people said there was a bit too much detail while others were fine with it. I’m in the middle because the aggressor really pushed the lines and while I was a bit uncomfortable with the detail, it didn’t go too far, just knocked my rating down .25)
Pay no attention to Goodreads dates. I finished this book in one day…and it was as worth it.
Let me start off by saying the Brian McBride is an excellent author. His writing style is amazing, and I love how he was able to write his characters.
Tommy: By far he was my favorite character with one other, but I really enjoyed following his story as he tries to rewrite his father’s legacy. The hunt for fossils and journals combined with found family and the start a romance really enhanced his character. He saw the best in people even after all he’s been through.
Lydia: She is also my favorite character. I loved the pureness of her heart even after she faced heartbreak, loss, and the idiot shall not be named until later. Her longing for something better drove her to the Jailbirds and helped her discover what she truly wanted. She was brave in her own way.
Jude and Maya and Mars: Yes, I’m lumping the last of the Jailbirds together. I really loved Jude. His sarcasm and wit was hilarious. But really, it was there to cover up something much darker. The strained relationship with his father and his love for his brother drove him. But really, the Jailbirds are his family. Maya was hilarious as well, but in a different way. Like most of the characters, she had issues with her parents, but she still was able to hold her own. I loved seeing how well she integrated with the boys of the Jailbirds, but remained feminine. Mars, well, he took a while to grow on me. I wasn’t for sure where his arc was going, but the ending!?!?? Send help. He, I feel, was the most levelheaded between family and the Jailbirds, but even then he struggled with so much.
Reid, Quincy, and Graham (🤮🤢): Quincy was annoying and only cared for the pleasures in life, but that’s his character. Reid, I still feel like there’s more to Reid. I liked him in the beginning, but things change. I hope it ends better than it started for him. He’s broken and just needs a family (and God). Graham, the doodie-head. He was trouble from the beginning. And then pulling that idiotic move. Yeah, it’s gonna take a miracle for me to like him if redemption comes his way.
Another thing that I enjoyed was the subtle faith content. Mentions of church and purity and the importance of God.
I loved the aesthetic and adventurous spirit of this book and I cannot wait to continue.
Content: violence (semidetailed), storms, abuse, h word used literally (one instance that I could disagree with, but readers discretion), sl*t, romance and kissing (up to semidetailed), a character attempts to force another character to go beyond her boundaries while in a relationship (it gets stopped before too much happens, but some people said there was a bit too much detail while others were fine with it. I’m in the middle because the aggressor really pushed the lines and while I was a bit uncomfortable with the detail, it didn’t go too far, just knocked my rating down .25)
August 9, 2022
Sadly, probably the most negative review I've written, and that makes me quite disappointed. I wanted to love it.
Minor spoilers.
There was too much content for my liking... Perhaps I am a bit old-fashioned, but I don't think we need the constant reminder of alcohol and drugs to establish that the Bluecoats have their issues. Mind you, I have the effects of alcohol mentioned in my latest WIP, but it's mentioned in the past and is quite obvious that it is not okay. I feel that we could see that the kids from the Wall have moral problems without the reoccurring scenes of them partying. Not to mention that the Jailbirds don't seem to exactly condemn the party life of the others. It seemed too casually thrown in; the drugs, drinking and sleeping around. The almost-happened-scene was too detailed... Could have downplayed it and still got the point across. And I know I may come across as sensitive and sheltered, thinking the content was too much. But honestly, I'd rather be sensitive than indulging in things a Christian shouldn't.
I also struggled with how blatantly the kids disrespected their parents. Granted, they don't seem to have the greatest folks in the world (ESPECIALLY Jude. I will certainly let his behavior slide.) But outright rolling of the eyes, defying them... It felt like it kind of gave the message that if we don't agree with our folks it's okay to go behind their backs, or snap right to their face. And I believe that's treading a fine line.
The jokes. I understand that they are supposed to be a closely knit group who love and tease each other. Yet I feel like every conversation had to have a jab or cheesy remark. It seemed a bit overdone. But maybe that's just me.
That being said, it was a pretty interesting story. I would like to hear the end of it, mind you, but sadly this wasn't a book that gripped me. I feel awful writing negative reviews because I am an Indie author and I understand the pain and frustration that goes into writing a novel, particularly a series. The writing style wasn't bad. Pretty generic for a modern novel, but I prefer more elegant writing like Joanna Davidson Politano. But I realize that this is a mystery/thriller novel and not a romance. So I'd say it's comparable to a more mature Hardy Boys.
What I DID like about this novel: Jude. I liked Jude. He seems very similar to a character in my own WIP, and I sensed a lot of pain in him even before we got his full story. I'm a sucker for the broken hero, and I really hope he and Maya become a thing. He needs a princess of his own.
The Wrangler Jeep. I made a several wonderful memories riding in my cousin's green Jeep with the top down. Just picturing the Jailbirds racing away in that lovely old vehicle... I could imagine myself and my cousin getting into that kind of mischief.
I got an INSTANT Scooby-Doo vibe when I sat down to read this book. In a very good way. And anyone who knows me would agree that I love good old Scooby-Doo.
Love that it ended on the cliffhanger. That's the perfect way to finish a mystery novel, in my humble Psych-and-MagnumPI-obsessed-opinion.
I would have liked to see more of Lydia's faith mentioned... The lack of God in the story was a little sad, honestly. I had wanted to see more of the Jailbirds' beliefs but Christ, prayer, or faith was rarely mentioned at all. That's the biggest thing I felt was missing in this story.
All in all, an entertaining read that gave me the Hardy Boys/Psych/Scooby-Doo feels. I would suggest to parents that this is intended for an older audience, of maybe 16+ due to content. But it depends on the reader, I know. Some can handle things better than I.
Minor spoilers.
There was too much content for my liking... Perhaps I am a bit old-fashioned, but I don't think we need the constant reminder of alcohol and drugs to establish that the Bluecoats have their issues. Mind you, I have the effects of alcohol mentioned in my latest WIP, but it's mentioned in the past and is quite obvious that it is not okay. I feel that we could see that the kids from the Wall have moral problems without the reoccurring scenes of them partying. Not to mention that the Jailbirds don't seem to exactly condemn the party life of the others. It seemed too casually thrown in; the drugs, drinking and sleeping around. The almost-happened-scene was too detailed... Could have downplayed it and still got the point across. And I know I may come across as sensitive and sheltered, thinking the content was too much. But honestly, I'd rather be sensitive than indulging in things a Christian shouldn't.
I also struggled with how blatantly the kids disrespected their parents. Granted, they don't seem to have the greatest folks in the world (ESPECIALLY Jude. I will certainly let his behavior slide.) But outright rolling of the eyes, defying them... It felt like it kind of gave the message that if we don't agree with our folks it's okay to go behind their backs, or snap right to their face. And I believe that's treading a fine line.
The jokes. I understand that they are supposed to be a closely knit group who love and tease each other. Yet I feel like every conversation had to have a jab or cheesy remark. It seemed a bit overdone. But maybe that's just me.
That being said, it was a pretty interesting story. I would like to hear the end of it, mind you, but sadly this wasn't a book that gripped me. I feel awful writing negative reviews because I am an Indie author and I understand the pain and frustration that goes into writing a novel, particularly a series. The writing style wasn't bad. Pretty generic for a modern novel, but I prefer more elegant writing like Joanna Davidson Politano. But I realize that this is a mystery/thriller novel and not a romance. So I'd say it's comparable to a more mature Hardy Boys.
What I DID like about this novel: Jude. I liked Jude. He seems very similar to a character in my own WIP, and I sensed a lot of pain in him even before we got his full story. I'm a sucker for the broken hero, and I really hope he and Maya become a thing. He needs a princess of his own.
The Wrangler Jeep. I made a several wonderful memories riding in my cousin's green Jeep with the top down. Just picturing the Jailbirds racing away in that lovely old vehicle... I could imagine myself and my cousin getting into that kind of mischief.
I got an INSTANT Scooby-Doo vibe when I sat down to read this book. In a very good way. And anyone who knows me would agree that I love good old Scooby-Doo.
Love that it ended on the cliffhanger. That's the perfect way to finish a mystery novel, in my humble Psych-and-MagnumPI-obsessed-opinion.
I would have liked to see more of Lydia's faith mentioned... The lack of God in the story was a little sad, honestly. I had wanted to see more of the Jailbirds' beliefs but Christ, prayer, or faith was rarely mentioned at all. That's the biggest thing I felt was missing in this story.
All in all, an entertaining read that gave me the Hardy Boys/Psych/Scooby-Doo feels. I would suggest to parents that this is intended for an older audience, of maybe 16+ due to content. But it depends on the reader, I know. Some can handle things better than I.
June 11, 2022
I cannot fully explain how much of a grip this series & these characters have on me! 😭 I’ve been aching to reread these books for months, but the timing wasn’t right. “Over the summer,” I told myself, & here we are. Hanging out in Mammoth with the Jailbirds is like coming home, and I walk away with fresh perspective & courage every single time. 💛
(June 2023 — 5⭐️ because it deserves alllll the stars!)
______
June 2022 Review — 4.5⭐️
WOW! Honestly, where do I start?! This was even better than I imagined!
I grew up reading adventure stories and the Hardy Boys so when I saw Brian took that premise and refreshed it for YA/NA, I was intrigued.
In Mammoth you belong to one of two groups, the socially elite or the socially outcast. Enter the Bluecoats and the Jailbirds. This two-sides of the track concept was well-developed and so interesting. Prejudice runs high throughout the story, but there are good and bad people on both sides.
The whole aura, descriptions, and details were real and evocative. If you live in the PNW or have visited, you know the weather and environment is honestly a moody character all it’s own, and Brian definitely nailed that.
Aaaahhhhh, the characters! Tommy…my heart broke for this kid. Like, can someone give him a hug, please? Actually, they all need hugs, just sayin’. Jude…his big brotherness in protecting Henry is just heartwarming and his wild imagination cracked me up! Mars…oh, this boy made me laugh; he has something of an Eeyore to him (practical and pragmatic) that just made me smile and that I related to. Lydia…I loved her old fashioned convictions and traditionalism; she’s such a sweetheart! Maya…the total mom-friend of the group and a level head. Reid…poor, broken, misguided boy…broke my heart.
Despite the story having 6 POVs, it works. Each voice is different enough to be unique and yet similar enough to flow.
The whole family feeling of the Jailbirds is just beautiful. None of the kids have decent parents, except Mars, so they become their own family for each other. Their bond is just the best and so sweet!! This might just be one of my favourite friend groups ever.
The plot hooked me…fossils, murder mystery, history, stormy nights, lighthouses…um, yes, please!!!! And that ending?!?! I was left spluttering and need book 2 ASAP!
I found a lot of quotes but this one really resonated with me:
“Ten-year-old Tommy didn’t know what he had, but nineteen-year-old Tommy certainly knew what he'd lost.”
A slightly spoiler-y heads up…
There was an *almost* scene with a young man trying to force himself on a young lady. She stopped him, and it was semi-detailed (mainly touching and trying to remove clothing) but nothing further happened.
Content: dealing with alcoholic parents; Reid has nondescript one night stands; some kissing; underaged alcohol consumption; mentions of women wearing low cut dresses; guy calls girl a “sl*t”
(June 2023 — 5⭐️ because it deserves alllll the stars!)
______
June 2022 Review — 4.5⭐️
WOW! Honestly, where do I start?! This was even better than I imagined!
I grew up reading adventure stories and the Hardy Boys so when I saw Brian took that premise and refreshed it for YA/NA, I was intrigued.
In Mammoth you belong to one of two groups, the socially elite or the socially outcast. Enter the Bluecoats and the Jailbirds. This two-sides of the track concept was well-developed and so interesting. Prejudice runs high throughout the story, but there are good and bad people on both sides.
The whole aura, descriptions, and details were real and evocative. If you live in the PNW or have visited, you know the weather and environment is honestly a moody character all it’s own, and Brian definitely nailed that.
Aaaahhhhh, the characters! Tommy…my heart broke for this kid. Like, can someone give him a hug, please? Actually, they all need hugs, just sayin’. Jude…his big brotherness in protecting Henry is just heartwarming and his wild imagination cracked me up! Mars…oh, this boy made me laugh; he has something of an Eeyore to him (practical and pragmatic) that just made me smile and that I related to. Lydia…I loved her old fashioned convictions and traditionalism; she’s such a sweetheart! Maya…the total mom-friend of the group and a level head. Reid…poor, broken, misguided boy…broke my heart.
Despite the story having 6 POVs, it works. Each voice is different enough to be unique and yet similar enough to flow.
The whole family feeling of the Jailbirds is just beautiful. None of the kids have decent parents, except Mars, so they become their own family for each other. Their bond is just the best and so sweet!! This might just be one of my favourite friend groups ever.
The plot hooked me…fossils, murder mystery, history, stormy nights, lighthouses…um, yes, please!!!! And that ending?!?! I was left spluttering and need book 2 ASAP!
I found a lot of quotes but this one really resonated with me:
“Ten-year-old Tommy didn’t know what he had, but nineteen-year-old Tommy certainly knew what he'd lost.”
A slightly spoiler-y heads up…
There was an *almost* scene with a young man trying to force himself on a young lady. She stopped him, and it was semi-detailed (mainly touching and trying to remove clothing) but nothing further happened.
Content: dealing with alcoholic parents; Reid has nondescript one night stands; some kissing; underaged alcohol consumption; mentions of women wearing low cut dresses; guy calls girl a “sl*t”
July 9, 2023
I picked up this book because I heard that if you liked Outer Banks you would like this. What I didn't expect was a carbon copy of the show. Don't believe me here are some of the similarities. Both the book and show are set in a beach town where a group of kids are trying to solve a mystery. In Outer Banks the rich kids are called kooks he live on figure eight while the poor kids are Pogues who live in the cut. In Mammoth the rich kids are called bluecoats who live on the wall while the poor kids are called jailbirds who live in the yard. Even the characters are direct links from ones in the show.
John B Routledge = Tommy Rhodes: The charismatic leader of the jailbirds crew. His father died months ago and he sets out to solve the mystery that he father was close to unveiling.
Sarah Cameron = Lydia Clark: Popular, wealthy and is described as the "princess". She leaves behind her bluecoat life to join the jailbirds and their mission and falls for Tommy.
JJ Maybank = Jude Mayfield: He is erratic and doesn't always think before he acts. He has a troubled life at home with his father but considers the jailbirds to be his actually family.
Pope Heyward =Mars Highland: He is the brainiac of the group and often their most rational of thinkers. His family owns a restaurant and he is tired of the bluecoats constantly winning in the town.
Kiara Carrera = Maya Morales: She has a rich family so lives in the wall with the bluecoats but only hangs out with the jailbirds. Her family often have arguments about he throwing he life away by not living the bluecoat life.
Rafe Cameron = Reid Cameron: Older brother to Lydia who is seen as the family screw-up. He has anger problems and often lashes out onto the people around him.
Ward Cameron = Orion Clark: Uncle to Lydia and Reid. He is the main antagonist who will stop at nothing to protect the families reputation.
I can't be the only one that thinks this is a little bit ridiculous and this is only scrapping the surface of similarities. In the book there are many plot points that I feel are direct link to those in the show. Even with the book being the exact same as the show almost it still lacked the adventure and romance that the show had to offer.
John B Routledge = Tommy Rhodes: The charismatic leader of the jailbirds crew. His father died months ago and he sets out to solve the mystery that he father was close to unveiling.
Sarah Cameron = Lydia Clark: Popular, wealthy and is described as the "princess". She leaves behind her bluecoat life to join the jailbirds and their mission and falls for Tommy.
JJ Maybank = Jude Mayfield: He is erratic and doesn't always think before he acts. He has a troubled life at home with his father but considers the jailbirds to be his actually family.
Pope Heyward =Mars Highland: He is the brainiac of the group and often their most rational of thinkers. His family owns a restaurant and he is tired of the bluecoats constantly winning in the town.
Kiara Carrera = Maya Morales: She has a rich family so lives in the wall with the bluecoats but only hangs out with the jailbirds. Her family often have arguments about he throwing he life away by not living the bluecoat life.
Rafe Cameron = Reid Cameron: Older brother to Lydia who is seen as the family screw-up. He has anger problems and often lashes out onto the people around him.
Ward Cameron = Orion Clark: Uncle to Lydia and Reid. He is the main antagonist who will stop at nothing to protect the families reputation.
I can't be the only one that thinks this is a little bit ridiculous and this is only scrapping the surface of similarities. In the book there are many plot points that I feel are direct link to those in the show. Even with the book being the exact same as the show almost it still lacked the adventure and romance that the show had to offer.
May 31, 2022
Holy cow this is THE book of the year!!! Hands down this was superb! This has all vibes of the 80s and 90s but with a nod to the modern world. This book has a mix of: Stranger Things, The Hardy Boys, The Swiss Family Robinson, Scarlett Pimpernel, The Goonies, Sherlock Holmes and Jules Verne all wrapped up in one! It. Was. Incredible! You won’t want to put it down! Full of adventure, mystery and danger this book will captivate you through its entirety.
Tommy Rhodes is an aspiring paleontologist and labeled a misfit. His father was mysteriously found dead washed up on shore with unanswered questions. Tommy lives and hides in the old lighthouse that once used to guard the shores of Mammoth Washington. His only friends, the Jailbirds, are the only family he has left.
A raging storm uncovers secrets and a mystery that’s beyond all the Jailbird’s wildest of dreams and Tommy is tangled in the center of it all.
Tommy, Jude, Maya, Mars and Lydia are practically hurled into the center of a deadly hunt to find out the truths and lies and all while their bonds of friendships are challenged with life and death situations.
Tommy Rhodes is an aspiring paleontologist and labeled a misfit. His father was mysteriously found dead washed up on shore with unanswered questions. Tommy lives and hides in the old lighthouse that once used to guard the shores of Mammoth Washington. His only friends, the Jailbirds, are the only family he has left.
A raging storm uncovers secrets and a mystery that’s beyond all the Jailbird’s wildest of dreams and Tommy is tangled in the center of it all.
Tommy, Jude, Maya, Mars and Lydia are practically hurled into the center of a deadly hunt to find out the truths and lies and all while their bonds of friendships are challenged with life and death situations.
May 11, 2022
"I'm afraid you're a Jailbird now...We're not friends- we're family."
Mammoth follows the journey of a group of young adults as they try to uncover the secrets in their hometown surrounding a mysterious death and a mammoth tusk.
A few of my favorite things…
-the teasing among friends
-found family
-Lydia's 'old fashioned' values
Know that…
-there is some light sexual content, violence, and murder
Perfect for…
teens who love adventure stories, lighthouses, and The Outsiders.
Mammoth follows the journey of a group of young adults as they try to uncover the secrets in their hometown surrounding a mysterious death and a mammoth tusk.
A few of my favorite things…
-the teasing among friends
-found family
-Lydia's 'old fashioned' values
Know that…
-there is some light sexual content, violence, and murder
Perfect for…
teens who love adventure stories, lighthouses, and The Outsiders.
March 25, 2023
The writers of Outerbanks should sue because this author copied everything from the show
July 14, 2022
Oh my, Mammoth was the best, fast-paced adventure story you could ever want. The plot is clever and compelling, with the group of characters that go by the name 'Jailbirds' discovering a mystery surrounding the town of Mammoth when a storm reveals something hidden. From there the plot takes off with perfectly-timed hints and revelations that propel the story along until it finally culminates in breakneck speed with the climax at the end and the denouement that leaves you wanting more and cheering on for the Jailbirds to keep going.
This story was an adventure story in the truest sense. The plot is engaging with enough questions and mysteries that you can't help but keep turning the page. I love the presence of paleontology throughout the book. It made my inner 'dinosaur kid' very happy. Along with that, I've long found bones and fossils fascinating.
And the Jailbirds. Can I just say I absolutely adore them? They all stand out on the page and are well fleshed-out characters. They feel so real, and they are a group that I would love to be friends with. Tommy's love of paleontology is compelling, and the reader is really drawn into his struggle and questions that surround the death of his father. Jude is hilarious and heart-breaking all at once. His quick wit and jokes will leave you laughing out loud, but knowing the pain he tries to hide really makes your heart break for him. Maya is the absolute best mom friend anyone could ever want, and I love and admire her boldness. Mars is an intelligent character that cares deeply for his family and friends, and I could relate to his struggle of wanting to 'play it safe' and stay out of things. His struggle that he experiences further on in the book broke my heart and I so wanted him to be the better man, but thankfully he realizes this later on and comes around. And Lydia. With Lydia's love of literature and walking out in the woods, she reminded me a lot of myself. And I strongly admired how she holds to her convictions. We need more characters like Lydia in stories these days. Beyond the Jailbirds, the villains as well as side characters are well developed. The villains are truly villainous and leave your heart pounding, as well as wanting good to triumph over their evil deeds.
The themes in Mammoth are so great and so poignant. Themes of truth and fighting for it, justice, found family, and holding fast to your convictions and beliefs in a world that would have you do otherwise are woven throughout the story and feel integral to the writing itself. And there were so many great quotes in this book. I plan on going back to them again. This is a novel that has fast become a favorite, and I am eagerly looking forward to reading its sequel, Titan.
Content: mentions of drinking and drug use; violence but nothing overly graphic or gory; murder; abusive family relationships; some mentions of sex and an "almost" scene but thankfully nothing happened (the MC held to her convictions and beliefs and didn't cave when pressured, which I really appreciate). Something I really appreciate about Brian's stories is that while he tackles difficult topics in his stories, he always does so in a way that is never graphic and that is handled well in an appropriate manner.
Definitely give Mammoth a try! You won't regret joining the Jailbirds on this adventure.
This story was an adventure story in the truest sense. The plot is engaging with enough questions and mysteries that you can't help but keep turning the page. I love the presence of paleontology throughout the book. It made my inner 'dinosaur kid' very happy. Along with that, I've long found bones and fossils fascinating.
And the Jailbirds. Can I just say I absolutely adore them? They all stand out on the page and are well fleshed-out characters. They feel so real, and they are a group that I would love to be friends with. Tommy's love of paleontology is compelling, and the reader is really drawn into his struggle and questions that surround the death of his father. Jude is hilarious and heart-breaking all at once. His quick wit and jokes will leave you laughing out loud, but knowing the pain he tries to hide really makes your heart break for him. Maya is the absolute best mom friend anyone could ever want, and I love and admire her boldness. Mars is an intelligent character that cares deeply for his family and friends, and I could relate to his struggle of wanting to 'play it safe' and stay out of things. His struggle that he experiences further on in the book broke my heart and I so wanted him to be the better man, but thankfully he realizes this later on and comes around. And Lydia. With Lydia's love of literature and walking out in the woods, she reminded me a lot of myself. And I strongly admired how she holds to her convictions. We need more characters like Lydia in stories these days. Beyond the Jailbirds, the villains as well as side characters are well developed. The villains are truly villainous and leave your heart pounding, as well as wanting good to triumph over their evil deeds.
The themes in Mammoth are so great and so poignant. Themes of truth and fighting for it, justice, found family, and holding fast to your convictions and beliefs in a world that would have you do otherwise are woven throughout the story and feel integral to the writing itself. And there were so many great quotes in this book. I plan on going back to them again. This is a novel that has fast become a favorite, and I am eagerly looking forward to reading its sequel, Titan.
Content: mentions of drinking and drug use; violence but nothing overly graphic or gory; murder; abusive family relationships; some mentions of sex and an "almost" scene but thankfully nothing happened (the MC held to her convictions and beliefs and didn't cave when pressured, which I really appreciate). Something I really appreciate about Brian's stories is that while he tackles difficult topics in his stories, he always does so in a way that is never graphic and that is handled well in an appropriate manner.
Definitely give Mammoth a try! You won't regret joining the Jailbirds on this adventure.
February 14, 2023
I’ll give a proper review at another time BUT I just wanted to say that I do really love the character dynamics with this group of friends, felt like me and my siblings.
Also, Jude Mayfield. I love him and that’s pretty much what the all the stars are for, not entirely, but I won’t lie about it. Haha
Also, Jude Mayfield. I love him and that’s pretty much what the all the stars are for, not entirely, but I won’t lie about it. Haha
March 9, 2022
Mammoth is not just a book; it's an adventure. This must-read is a page turner steeped in the fog of the Pacific Northwest. Get knee deep in the mysteries of Mammoth alongside Tommy and the Jailbirds for an unforgettable journey.
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December 7, 2022
3.5 stars. In many ways very similar to "Outer Banks," but honestly better quality--more intriguing treasure hunts, more compelling characters, richer backstories, and less "oh Lord why" teenage idiocy. However, I was disappointed in the sequel because I thought it cranked up the unbelievability factor quite a bit.
March 12, 2022
This is Brian McBride's best book to date, and I've loved them all! The Jailbirds are a multifaceted, loyal, diverse group of characters whose banter made me laugh out loud multiple times. My favorite characters are Lydia and AJ. Lydia is a sweetheart who is trying to figure out her path in life, and AJ is an enthusiastically supportive friend who is king of the witty comments.
MAMMOTH has the perfect balance between character and plot, and it has a unique structure where there are eight episodes throughout the 500ish-page book. It would work great as a Netflix show because each episode has an arc but all together they tell a complete story. Also, the ending wraps up but leaves you eager for the next book, so I am eager to read it.
Tagged as "new adult" because the characters are around 18 and done with high school - there is nothing graphic in this book, which I appreciate. Just a few kisses and next to no swearing, and the violence is milder than you would encounter in The Avengers. Definitely suitable for the whole range of young adult. It even has a rating in the back of PG-13. I wish more books did this!
I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I also copyedited.
MAMMOTH has the perfect balance between character and plot, and it has a unique structure where there are eight episodes throughout the 500ish-page book. It would work great as a Netflix show because each episode has an arc but all together they tell a complete story. Also, the ending wraps up but leaves you eager for the next book, so I am eager to read it.
Tagged as "new adult" because the characters are around 18 and done with high school - there is nothing graphic in this book, which I appreciate. Just a few kisses and next to no swearing, and the violence is milder than you would encounter in The Avengers. Definitely suitable for the whole range of young adult. It even has a rating in the back of PG-13. I wish more books did this!
I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I also copyedited.
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