The publisher reached out to me about reading this during June/Pride month, and while it actually was published in May, I said okay and fit it into my review schedule for the end of the month. When I picked it up, WOW! I was hooked! And then when it got into the story back in the “normal” world, I was definitely interested just as much to go along for the ride with how the characters behaved and acted when things happened.

There was so much that was good in this book. I loved the archaeological adventures themselves, just learning more about things I knew tiny bits about was fun. When a book makes me go do my own research outside of the story to learn more about something, I know it is good! I loved how Tennessee, or Tenny, would create lists to try to help make decisions on how he should handle things, those were always fun to read. I liked how he handled things too. With his ex cheating on him, the new friends he made to try to get over that, all of those were perfect and what I feel were real ways to deal with those issues. 

While there was one time I was a little irritated with how he dealt with a disappointment, I reminded myself he was a teenager still, and then yeah, it totally made sense how he reacted. I loved that the author made him so real. That he cried when it was obvious that is something his character would do in that situation. That he needed to be alone to deal with things, etc. How he reacted and dealt with his father when things changed but how he also still kept that grudge there, whether he wanted to or not, that’s real. 

I definitely will be recommending this for next year’s Gateway Committee, that I won’t be on because I don’t have enough time to read all the books like I thought I would. And while I hate that it took me so long to get to this, the end of June, I think it is the perfect review to wrap up Pride month! And I’m so excited that it is going to be a series. I can’t wait to learn about more unknown historical people or stories!