YA Time Travel Read – Dino Rift by Derek Borne
This week I have a review of a YA time travel read, Dino Rift by Derek Borne, narrated by Isabella Tugman. The second book in this series released and, captivated by the first book, I’m already halfway through this young adult, time travel, dinosaur adventure. From Derek’s website, I see this series is part of the same world as his Ultimate Agent‘s series that promises the following.
Bantering superhero spies with a penchant for pizza.
High-tech gadgets that you’ll wish were real.
Blockbuster-worthy action and sweet, charming romance.
Bigfoot, Mothman, Loch Ness Monster, the Michigan Dogman,
a Kraken (because why not?), and a freaking Minotaur!
Twists that will make you question everything.
Story with heart that will have you cheering for more.
He had me at superheroes and pizza, but, I digress. Derek shared Dino Rift with me and I listened to it in a single day while doing my chores. The length of the audiobook says 7 hours and 10 minutes but I listen on 1.4x speed so it took me about 4 hours.
Written in a third person omniscient point of view, this young adult novel predominantly features 18 year old teens, Vivienne (Viv) and Kamren (Kam). Best friends since childhood, Viv and Kam are nearing the end of their senior year in high school. One night they decide to break into a local dinosaur museum and get sent across a time “rift” into prehistoric dinosaur age. There they meet some very cool dinosaurs and encounter some night so wonderful people who are trying to exploit the dinosaurs.
It is obvious that the author did a lot of research on dinosaurs, so if you’re a dinosaur lover you’ll like this read. Also anyone into sci-fi, Dr. Who, and time travel genres will be a quick fan of Derek’s book. I liked his writing style and the narration by Isabella Tugman was excellent.
My official review of this YA time travel adventure
4/5* – I can’t believe I waited so long to read/listen to this. This is a solid YA adventure/time travel novel with great characters and plot. I listened to the audiobook version and it’s a quality production that I enjoyed. For lovers of dinosaurs this is a gem. I’m already listening to the second book in the series and can’t wait to see what happens next.
The official book blurb from Audible
“Seriously, if you love Jurassic Park and YA novels, you need to check this one out!” (Rabid Readers Book Blog)
The Rift.
A gateway to a prehistoric world.
For years, SauraCorps has kept its existence confidential while touting themselves as a run-of-the-mill dinosaur museum.
For two Utah teens, Kamren and Vivienne, a care-free night to themselves quickly turns into a daunting trek through an exotic, unfamiliar time.
Not only do they stumble upon SauraCorps’ nefarious agenda, they also encounter major discrepancies concerning the past that would rewrite history books as we know them.
Kam and Viv’s reliance on each other through the primeval environment also tests their friendship in unexpected ways.
Will they survive and make it home…together?
Note: Dino-Rift is set in the same universe as Derek Borne’s The Ultimate Agent series.
“Not only was this book entertaining, it was also a learning experience.” (The Magic of Books Blog)
Find the audiobook here or other versions from Derek’s website.
About this YA author
From Derek…
I grew up in a little town called Paris, Ontario, Canada. And no, we don’t have an Eiffel Tower, although that would be pretty cool!
My main line of work is retail, selling Ultra-Premium olive oil and balsamic, so writing is my hobby and what I enjoy doing on the side.
I’m currently married to my lovely wife and we have a pet bearded dragon named Ziggy. And yes, she has quite the beard!
When it comes to stories (books or movies), like most teenagers and young adults, I love anything sci-fi and action/ adventure. Being a storyteller at a very young age, a love of writing inevitably came to the fore. In grade 8 (2002), I wrote and completed my first novel, “The Ultimate Agent.”
Favorite Authors:
Michael Crichton – Jurassic Park; Prey; State of Fear
Jeffrey Archer – Paths of Glory
Other Hobbies:
Guitar, singing, hockey, movie watching and referencing (I’m pretty good at that, I scare myself sometimes), and being a nerd.
Find all of Derek’s books on his website here.
Happy reading!
Tricia
Tricia Copeland believes in finding magic. She thinks magic infuses every aspect of our lives, whether it is the magic of falling in love, discovering a new passion, a beautiful sunset, or a book that transports us to another world. An avid runner and Georgia native, Tricia now lives with her family and four-legged friends in Colorado. Find all her titles from contemporary romance and fantasy, to dystopian fiction at www.triciacopeland.com.