Mammoth

Written by Jill Baguchinsky

Narrated by Carly Robins

The summer before her junior year, paleontology geek Natalie Page lands a coveted internship at an Ice Age dig site near Austin, Texas. Natalie, who’s also a plus-size fashion blogger, depends on the retro style and persona she developed to shield herself from her former bullies, but vintage dresses and designer heels aren’t compatible with digging for fossils.

But nothing is going to dampen her spirit. She’s exactly where she wants to be, and gets to work with her hero, the host of the most popular paleontology podcast in the world. And then there’s Chase, the intern, who’s seriously cute, and Cody, a local boy who’d be even cuter if he were less of a grouch.

It’s a summer that promises to be about more than just mammoths.

Until it isn’t.

When Natalie’s paleontologist hero turns out to be anything but, and steals the credit for one of her accomplishments, she has to unearth the confidence she needs to stand out in a field dominated by men. To do this, she’ll have to let her true self shine, even if that means defying the rules and risking her life for the sake of a major discovery. While sifting through dirt, she finds more than fossils―she finds out that she is truly awesome.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Nov 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9781978633353

Jill Baguchinsky

Jill Baguchinsky was the only kid in town who used to dress up as a Ghostbuster for Halloween. Jill lives in Florida, where she spends too much time on the Internet, sneaks off to Disney World whenever possible, and serves as secretary to her grumpy muses. Her first book, Spookygirl: Paranormal Investigator, won the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for Young Adult Fiction.

Reviews for Mammoth

[jessicadelellis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher (Turner Publishing) in exchange for an honest review. This was a super fun and cute read! I loved the unique point of view. A plus sized fashion blogger who loves paleontology is something we don’t see often. I enjoyed reading her view point and seeing the world through her eyes. It was a unique perspective that I found refreshing. I enjoyed the little Look of the Day pictures and blog posts that are mixed in at the beginning of some chapters. They were cute and added a nice touch. I thought the romance was very adorable. I was happy with who she ended up with in the end. I was shipping them from the very beginning. The one thing I didn’t like was how annoying the main character, Natalie, got in the second half of the book. She started making one stupid decision after another. A lot of the problems she had were caused by making bad decisions and she would try to solve the problem by making more bad decisions. It ended up being a chain of bad decisions and it frustrated me. But aside from this, I still liked the plot overall. Overall, this was a unique young adult novel full of paleontology fun, a dash of funky fashion, and a sprinkle of romance.

[maecee18 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Firstly I would like to thank LibraryThing and Turner Publishing for an ARC of this book.I thoroughly enjoyed this book, to the point of ignoring my never ending pile of homework.Even though this book seems like a cute YA contemporary (which it is), it still has enjoyable characters, an interesting plot, and an unexpected ending. The main character, Natalie, is a plus size teen fashion blogger and paleontology geek who uses makeup and vintage clothing as an armor because she still isn't comfortable in her own skin. She grows and changes in this aspect in the second half of the book though, and I love it! I am also plus size and my high school self had somewhat similar thoughts to Natalie's, so I definitely understood where she was coming from. My favorite part is that she is a paleontology geek and her internship at a Universty dig site in Austin Texas plays a major role in the story. Part of her character growth actually has to do with how she handles herself with some situations at the internship and I liked how she learned from these experiences/mistakes. It doesn't hurt that she meets a cute Texan boy who is a paleontology geek as well, and shows her how awesome she naturally is without her "armor."There were some scenes in the book that bugged me or didn't sit well, although I am hard pressed to remember them now. Part my not giving it 5 stars is that most of the other characters were pretty standard, such as Brendan, and Quinn, but I don't think that detracted from the plot very much. A few of the scenes were typical YA contemporary or romance but still not bad.Overall, I am so glad I received this book and I highly recommend it. Although I understand that this book definitely isn't for everyone. If it piques your interest in even the slightest way though, please pick it up!

[air_557 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book for me was very relatable! I loved the character of Natalie, how she works to overcome a lot of her personal struggles. It is a YA book and written for a YA audience, but I enjoyed it and it was a quick read. It’s a nice romance, and has good characters, along with an interesting field for YA! Would certainly recommend it.

[spinsterrevival · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well I had to get through probably forty percent of this before it started to redeem itself, but by the end I really enjoyed it. The book is about a girl who has issues with herself and loves paleontology, and the paleontology wins out over her issues by the end.If I’d gotten around to reading this when it was published in 2018, I might not have had such a visceral reaction to all her weight issues (including guessing any woman’s weight in her head when she meets them—yikes); there’s a lot of triggering stuff here, and while it seems to be handwaved over by the end, it doesn’t negate the badness.But the story itself was really interesting (lots of twists and turns and ups and downs) with a cute romance thrown in, so I guess hanging in there was worth it.

[whitewavedarling · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mammoth wasn't exactly what I expected, but I have to say that I really enjoyed. First, I have to tell you that this is a young adult book. The blurb doesn't make that clear at all--in fact, even having read the book, it's hard to read the blurb and figure out how they might expect a reader to understand that the protagonist is in high school vs. college. Since there's nothing on my copy of the book that says "YA" or "Young Adult", there's no real way to know without beginning the book, which feels (to me) like a mistake. That actually isn't the only marketing issue I have to bring up up-front... if you can make yourself go from reviews alone, or only read the first half of the blurb, do it. The last paragraph of the blub works hard to give away both the one big twist (semi-predictable as part of it might be) as well as the resolution, which I find kind of ridiculous.But, on to the story... which is a lot of fun. I don't read much YA outside of the fantasy realm, but this contemporary has great characters and fantastic to writing. Baguchinski did a great job of integrating the protagonist's love of science/paleontology in a meaningful way, and offering the details to make it all feel real. In other words, what's included is smart and well-researched in a way that took me back to the various spots where I've visited fossils and peeked into this part of the science world, and it all felt wonderfully real. True, there were some small believability issues on the logistics side--not enough chaperones, treating high schoolers too much like college kids, etc.--but I ended up being swept into the book and reading it in one sitting.For a YA blend of great characters and science, I'd absolutely recommend it. And if you know a teenage girl, this book is worth passing on. I'm planning on handing it to my niece the next time I see her. So, all told, yes, I absolutely recommend it.

[bethanylynnfox · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Overall, I would say this is a pretty average YA story. Nothing special or exciting about the plot. I guess the only thing that might make this book stand out is that the main character is plus sized and into dinosaurs. I found the main character very unlikable and unrealistic.

[bookczuk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reviewed Oct 14, 2018, though the review has for some reason vanished. Resurected it from another site:I really enjoyed reading this book, and not just because I had a former lifetime as a dig-nerd while at uni. We were investigating a Native American site up in Watertown NY one January, and it was colder than a polar bear's arse that winter. I never found anything of significance, despite my desires, and got permanent mud stains on my Christmas present that year -- sky-blue parka with fake fur on the hood. Seriously, there was so much to like about this book, starting with the clear voice of Natalie, author of the Fossilista and summer intern at a site uncovering Mammoths. I'm really tired of perfectly proportioned women getting front and center all the time, and Natalie's approach to donning her armor and confronting that demographic is great. And yes, while I may not be the target demographic for this book, I can still be grateful that such a fresh voice is available to them. Plus, the story was interesting, the characters and interactions authentic. So Yay, again.Many thanks to Library Thing early readers program and the publishers for sending me this.

[angelajmaher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this, although I was a little unsure initially. The main character's preoccupation with her appearance seemed perhaps a little over the top, but it ends up being a key part of her character arc, and gives some very real insights that are often missing in books.I enjoyed the science aspect of the book. It gives an interesting group of characters a solid and engaging storyline, going into enough detail to be interesting but not so much as to put off non-science-loving readers, or to detract from the tale itself.The style is light and it's an easy book to relax with.

[saschad-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

n Jill Baguchinsky’s Mammoth, Natalie Page, who’s been bullied before because of her weight, has two passions in life: vintage fashion and paleontology. Good grades and hard work get her an internship at a besieged archaeological site in Texas where she gets to work with cute boys and learn the skills that she hopes to make her future career.Natalie Page is a character I was rooting for throughout the pages of Mammoth even when she does things that are cringe-worthy or incite eye rolls. An element of being a fashionista is to always wear the proper attire for a given situation, right? So a dress and heels are not exactly appropriate for an archaeological orientation nor Chanel flats for a site tour. But we give her the benefit of the doubt because she’s a kid and we also realize that these things, like the shapewear she puts on each day, are part of her armor.This internship proves eye-opening for Natalie who discovers that her paleontologist hero actually has feet of clay and that not all cute boys are the same.Despite being smart, she does dumb and impetuous things. Traits of being a teenager? Probably.There are lots of details and action and I found the novel hard to put down because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I especially appreciated that Natalie changed throughout the novel and came to worry less about her weight and more about who she was as a person and also that actions have consequences.I recommend Mammoth for readers who enjoy YA fiction with elements of romance, geekiness, science, fashion and self-awareness.I won a copy of Mammoth from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.

[frogwindy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you are looking for a quick, entertaining read try Mammoth by Jill Baguchinsky. Natalie is a paleontologist nerd & plus-size fashion blogger who, through the progress of the story, learns to truly accept & embrace herself for who she is. The book is a fun mix of science facts & fashion post interspersed with life lessons. I found myself wishing the blog drawings were actual photos of real clothes & that Natalie's aunts clothing company Savage Swallow was real. Altogether an enjoyable read. Rec'd as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

[susanehh · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a fun YA book. It centers around high school student Natalie Page, a plus-sized fashion blogger who is way into paleontology, and her summer internship at an Ice Age dig in Texas. Natalie deals with scars left by past bullying, the drama of boys, the crushing disappointment of being let down by a hero, and ambition.This book has strong female characters involved in the sciences. I was a bit disappointed with how easily (and often) Natalie was led to put her treasured internship in jeopardy, but then, she is a high school kid.Nice lesson here about personal responsibility and being yourself.

[wecrow · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I unexpectedly received a "uncorrected proof" copy in the mail from Library Thing. I did not even know I was going to get it!I need to point out that I am a middle aged woman and this book is most definitely a book for a younger reader than I.As a whole, it is a good book about a very bright young lady trying too hard get "accepted" socially and conveys an air of confidence that just may waver a bit inside.This book a a little of a 'coming of age' musing I liked. It also conveys what I think is realistic thoughts and actions of a teen. (It was a long time ago folks).As a whole, it was well written, with strong developed characters and educational as well.

[muddyboy · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is a book for overweight girls and is very shallow. The main character (Natilie) is portrayed as having a passion for Paleontology. But to me, her real passion is for her designer clothes blog posting herself in new outfits and also for boys. And, of course. the handsome guys like her way more than her personality deserves. She goes as an intern to a dig site breaks all the rules (never gets booted) and is forgiven and guess what (spoiler alert) ends up saving the day in the end as if that were ever in doubt. This should appeal to the shallowest of readers.

[hmcdonald-1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This was a DNF for me. I really tried to stick with it, but there were several reasons why I couldn't finish this book.(1) I was an archeology major, and the author gets very BASIC facts about working on dig sites wrong. We're supposed to believe the main character is obsessed with paleontology and is serious about becoming a paleontologist, but she shows up to the dig site on the first day in pumps. Then, the characters TAKE soil home from the lab, soil that has not yet been screen picked - I just do not understand. At least where I worked, you are NOT allowed to take anything out of the lab just casually and bring it home with you.(2) this book is very triggering. I was looking forward to having a book with a plus size main character since I myself am overweight. However, all that the main character thinks about is how she compares to every other girl (note: not boy) around her, to the point where every SINGLE girl she sees, she guesses their weight in her mind. She also snaps a hairband against her wrist - literal self-harm. It was very uncomfortable to read and honestly I felt horrible for this main character. It took me a long time to be comfortable in my skin, but now that I am, I don't want to read about a plus size character self-harming. I was hoping more that it would just be a feature of who this character is, not the main focus of the book.

[litgirl7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Natalie is a girl with a working brain and a unique interest in the field of paleontology (which was quirky- I gleaned a few things) Natalie is also overweight, so -as per society's rules: everything she fails at, whether it be relationships with boys or friendships with girls-even awkward class studies,happen because she's not thin. This is very realistic from what I can see in these fat-phobic times. Natalie is also into fashion, and has a plus-sized blog where she shows only her highlight reels of curated outfits and 'keeps it light' because her followers demand it. I liked this book and think it would be a good read for the YA set. The writing was very clear and concise, so I could picture this story as clearly as if a movie.

[newtzi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable read! This was a fun to read, light romance. Natalie was easy to relate to as an impulsive teenager with a drive for her own experiences. I appreciated the support her family gave to her even through her mistakes (and the fact that she admitted to her poor judgement!) . Recommend to read for an enjoyable afternoon!

[karenajeff · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Overall I enjoyed this book, but I like most YA stuff. The paleontology focus was very interesting, but I'm not into fashion at all. I found the protagonist interesting for the most part, if not more introspective about her strengths and weaknesses. Overall, a good read.

[acourtofbooksandlove · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is about a plus-sized fashion blogger who is really interested in paleontology, or the study of fossils. Natalie got accepted for a scholarship to an intern program that is with the university that she wants to go to. While there, she meets two boys, local boy Cody and fellow intern Chase. ..I don’t want to give too much away because I feel like the synopsis on the back gives too much away for the story, giving away something that happens over halfway through the book. But the romance is a focus of the book, but it’s not the main focus, which I appreciated. There’s a bigger focus on Natalie and her struggles and how she overcomes them. Natalie made some really dumb choices throughout this book, but I feel like they were solved in a good way which is nice to see. ..Overall, I feel like this book handled a lot of things very well. We got a look into a popular blogger and how what we may see on the surface is only what they want us to see. I feel like this book would be good for a younger girl who might be struggling with how her weight fits into her “image.” ..I gave this book 4 stars. I think the writing wasn’t anything super extravagant, but the story was enjoyable and a quick read. That and it made baby me cry so there’s that.

[christiana5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this from the Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review. Mammoth is the story of a teenage girl, Natalie, who is equally obsessed with paleontology and fashion. A very modern teen, she has a blog where she discusses both topics, though as the story progresses we learn that she uses fashion as a sort of armor to protect her from bullying about her weight and looks. This is a coming of age story, with love interests, testing her independence and demonstrating career skills while also making some poor choices, and the disappointment of learning that her hero is not worthy of her admiration. It's a quick read, and an interesting story; Natalie is likable and you want things to turn out well for her.

[jillkenna · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was all about paleontology nerd Natalie Page and her summer internship at a mammoth dig site. This was another book that I really liked for it's realistic-ness. I loved the that MC, Natalie, was a larger lady and that did not hinder her in any way. But I did like how the author gave us an inside look into how Natalie dealt with that on a day to day basis and still stayed her fabulous self. This book had themes of figuring out your self worth, making mistakes and owning up to them, fashion, and of course, dinosaurs! I really loved this book and I would highly recommend it to anyone, but especially if you are a dino nerd like me!

[lyzzybee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Programme, and it was a physical book for once, which was a nice change. It's published by Turner Publishing in the US, and I'm grateful to them for sending me a copy in return for an honest review.The description makes it sound a bit chick-litty, and yes, there is romance, friendship, clothes and high spirits, but I think it has a lot more depth than the genre description might make you think.Natalie, our heroine, is a plus-size fashion blogger and palaeontology geek who reinvented herself in high school, and no, not in that way they expect plus-size heroines to invent themselves: she did not lose weight; she learned to make the best of herself, developing a funky vintage style thanks to the support of her very cool aunt, who owns a vintage boutique, makes clothes and accessories and is a marvel in a thrift store.I'm linking up with Grab the Lapels' "Reading Fat Women" project here, because this is her aim: to find positive representations of folks who identify as fat women in books. That positive representation will not hinge on the character being miserable and then happy after losing weight or falling in love. Characters can lose weight or fall in love, but it is not the catalyst for their happiness. I also will not recommend books in which the character pulls her body apart and criticize pieces (I call this the “chicken dinner”).and I think this book fits into that aim.Natalie describes herself as fat, both internally and to others, she is proud of her style and she is not interested in losing weight. She brings up some issues around choosing what to eat in the cafeteria as she doesn't like being seen as eating too much for fear of being fat-shamed (but she doesn't shame herself for her eating; it's self-protection, because although she is trying to be awesome as well as live her lived experience, sometimes it's hard, and I think it would be unrealistic for it not to be). She mentions sitting in a certain way so her thigh doesn't spill over and touch someone's leg, then reminds herself (and indeed this proves true) that it is a strong thigh (later, she's shown as having an advantage in her strength when a wispier colleague finds it hard to kneel and dig on the mammoth excavation). And most importantly, while she does have a further transformation, it's to remove some of her protective armour of thick makeup and a body shaper, rather than to lose weight and add more adornment. She's celebrated for her abilities - she's a talented palaeontologist and a great needlewoman. She makes mistakes and learns from them. She does seek love but it's not the only thing she's after or shored up by - her family (especially her marvellous aunt), female friendships and career are equally as important.It's a moral book all through: we see issues such as parent-child relationships and bullying, stealing others' work, needing to learn that no means no and keeping your own boundaries. When people step over the line, they're punished for it and it's explained why. Both women and men take leadership roles in the organisation we come across, and there's talk of needing more women in STEM.So it's a book about getting an intern role on a mammoth dig and making discoveries and finding your hero has feet of clay. It's also a book about being true to yourself, about beard one-upmanship and how sometimes you do need to wear flat shoes. It's about following your dreams and daring to try hard at things, while accepting the consequences. I loved it.

[kalky_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

MAMMOTH by Jill Baguchinsky features a month in the life of Natalie Page, a high school student and the author of the Fossilista, a fashion blog that also focuses on paleontology. Natalie has been selected for a spot in a highly competitive summer internship working at a dig site near Austin, and MAMMOTH opens as she starts her trip to Texas.As a plus-size teen who was bullied throughout grade school and junior high, Natalie reinvented herself the summer before her freshman year. As part of that transformation, she has adopted a fake-it-til-you-make-it philosophy. Her mantra is "Be Awesome," and she presents herself as a confident and assertive young woman who isn't self-conscious about her weight--and in fact, followers of her blog would say that she embraces her curves, and she showcases them with a signature style. Despite outward appearances, though, Natalie is full of doubt and insecurities.Natalie's internship is only four weeks, but in that time she experiences romance, jealousy, new friendships, and betrayal ... and she makes a LOT of really bad choices. The story moves quickly with plenty of action, and I can't stress enough how awesome it is to read a book about a geeky, fashionable, science-loving girl who wears a size 20 and is more amazing than she realizes. I wish Natalie's supporting cast had been worthy of her, and some of the risks that Natalie takes seem way out of character, but this book is full of charm, and its positive message helps carry the day. I definitely recommend it to lovers of contemporary YA.My thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[jane3phillips-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Natalie, a plus-size fashion blogger and paleontology geek, lands a summer internship at an Ice Age dig in Texas and soon learns that the retro clothing that she wears as "armour" is not compatible with the rigors of the work. This is a great read for young adults and it was refreshing to have a story featuring a female heroine set in the world of science. I very much enjoyed reading this book.

[jamieschecter · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I appreciate that the author highlighted a character that is not often seen in YA (plus size fashion blogger) and has interests not regularly seen in YA (dinosaurs), but overall I didn't really care for this book. I felt the side characters were really undeveloped and the most interesting one was the catty frenemy. The main character, Natalie, made really bad decisions and sometimes her actions had consequences, but I didn't get an emotional depth from her. I'm really glad that the book didn't center around a weight loss journey or her dealing with weight related depression, though she does deal with anxiety around eating in public and being romantic with boys. It is so easy for books about plus sized/fat protagonists easily veer into that space and this one didn't lay it on too thick.

[sjgirl-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Natalie, a fashion and paleontology blogger, couldn’t be more excited to spend a month digging up bones in Austin, but she doesn’t anticipate boy drama and an idol who isn’t necessarily everything she thought him to be. I thought the arc about Natalie’s appearance, the way it swings back and forth between being a source of doubt and a source of confidence, and how her perception of herself and others gradually evolved, was nicely done.However, Natalie’s self-esteem felt more like a side story, it felt like there wasn’t enough going on for her outside of that, sure, there is the boy drama I mentioned (which I didn’t love), and she is ambitious (which is great), but emotionally, I wanted her to have even more of a challenge beyond becoming comfortable with how she looks. I couldn’t help wondering if this wouldn’t have been a stronger story if, in addition to her physical insecurities, Natalie’s character had also been given Quinn’s dilemma of being in her father’s shadow, being overlooked by him and pressured to succeed when she’s failing. The emotional turmoil Quinn feels around her father had me more invested than I was with Natalie and any of her relationships. Maybe if Natalie had been dealing with something like that, the plot would have driven itself more, too, rather than require Natalie to make some less than sound decisions to keep the book going. I realize that in each instance she’s motivated by either insecurity or ambition, but I’d like to think an insecure and/or ambitious person could still maintain their intelligence. Someone who make mistakes I’m fine with, flaws make for interesting characters, but there’s a line between mistakes and flaws and having an otherwise smart, scientifically-minded girl make dumb decisions for the sake of the plot. It hurt Natalie’s romance for me as well, because at a certain point a smart guy who had previously made smart decisions and called out Natalie when she needed it, he also had to be dumbed-down to go along with Natalie’s idea, making it difficult to respect him when he barely questioned what they were doing. It aggravated me all the more when certain adults praised her behavior and rewarded her for it, and the adults who did not were somehow seen as unreasonable. The dig site aspect of this as well as the heroine’s size offer something a little different as far as young adult contemporary titles go, and while this had its moments (particularly whenever the girls actually got along) and I wouldn’t be opposed to trying more from this author, for me, this one didn’t quite live up to its potential.I received this ARC through a giveaway.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I adored this book from start to finish. I really identified with Natalie. She's a teen-aged fashionista and paleo geek. She's also plus size and SUPER aware of it. She makes and assembles her wardrobe like it's her armor. She has to feign her confidence even if she doesn't feel it, because she refuses to go back to being the "frumpy fat girl."Natalie is about to have the summer of her dreams. She won a scholarship to be part of a prestigious paleontology internship in Texas and she can't stop geeking out. Paleontology and fashion are her life, it's all she's posting about on her "fossilita" blog. When she arrives in Texas, she is a little self conscious but beyond excited. There are even some cute guys in her internship. She quickly learns though, that in a field so dominated by men, she will have to do whatever it takes to stand out. In the process, she'll finally stand up for herself. Charming and well written. I loved this book and I loved Natalie, whose sass and earnestness will win over readers!

[dani.st6onge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is a fantastic blend of so many things. I loved the focus on palaeontology and that it took place during an internship. It brought up some of the very real issues women in STEM face while giving younger girls a bright protagonist to look up to, even if not all of Natalie's choices were the best possible ones at the moment.Natalie is a palaeo-nerd and a fashion blogger. I absolutely loved how some chapters opened with her look of the day and daily blog post. I love seeing women who are invested in fashion as well as their other less traditionally feminine passions. Natalie shows us that, while some compromises may have to be made, you can definitely do both.Baguchinsky does a wonderful job fleshing out all the characters around Natalie, from her professors, her parents, her best friend and the other internship kids. I was really nervous at first about Quinn. I hate the classic mean girl trope and I hate when girls are only used as competition for each other. I was pleasantly surprised by how this all turned out though. I especially loved Mellie and would kill to have her as a roommate.There's a lot of good chemistry and interesting romance in this book. It's not the classic trope-y YA romance you're expecting. It takes a few pleasantly surprising twists and turns with some very satisfying endings. I'm really happy to see some of the characters get exactly what's coming to them in this book.Natalie herself is a lot of things. Passionate, reckless, ambitious, self-conscious and at times infuriating. There were decisions that she made that I could not stand. I had to put the book down a few times because I was feeling second-hand anxiety so hard. Which is good writing. Natalie doesn't come out as entirely likeable for me, but she feels real. The climax near the end of the book is a little too over the top but still enjoyable.Despite an immense amount of cringing, Mammoth is a light-hearted, fun story that examines some of the struggles women in STEM face. There's good characters, good plot and a whole lot of heart. Natalie is a plus-sized passionate fossilista who'll make you fall in love and want to follow your dreams.

[pamelabarrett · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Natalie is a plus-size fashion blogger and a Paleontologist geek who is about to have a summer that will change her life. As one of a select few getting to internship at a University of Austin, Texas dig-site she’s beginning her dreamed of journey into the discovery of Mammoth bones. When it comes to skeletal remains she is brilliant and passionate, but navigating relationships is harder territory for her. Because she was bullied at school for her weight, she has learned to reinvent herself; a trait she gleaned from her eccentric aunt. Now armed with her blog, her fashion façade, and the excitement of walking in the footsteps of her favorite paleontologist celebrity, she’s ready to face the world on her own. But when that world collides with the competition and back stabbing in her chosen field she will have to dig deeper to discover her true self.I am so glad I read this awesome book, it should be required reading for every teen going off to college. The author’s voice is fresh and comes through charmingly in her contemporary characters. Mammoth is a grand adventure that pulls you in quickly with appealing characters. My only warning: swearing. 4 stars

[impy_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Some books are just really easy to sink into and lose all sense of time. Mammoth is one of those books. Pretty much right off the bat I found myself thoroughly charmed by Natalie and wanted to know more about her.Also, I related to Natalie and wished that younger!me could've had that aha! moment that I had while reading the book.I won't say there are no flaws to be had, but I do believe that most of them were at least touched upon by the end of the book. Natalie has a kind of annoying habit of guesstimating just about every woman's weight whenever she runs into them but this isn't played off as something she really enjoys or likes to do; it's a byproduct of her being hyper-aware of her own weight as well as her time spent at her aunt's store. So there's a reason given instead of "ha, all fat girls can do this" which btw, they cannot. Natalie also has a terrible habit of picking the absolute worst option when presented with "do the thing" and "don't do the thing". She will almost always choose "do the thing" even when she knows it's a horrible, no good, very bad thing that she would fuss at almost anyone else for doing. But again, this actually gets called out. More than once. So while there's a stretch of the book you're pretty much going, "Natalie, noooooo!" over and over, there are consequences to her actions. People do call her out on her behavior and she even realizes that she's made some pretty big mistakes and is going to have to live with the fallout. Which isn't something that is guaranteed to happen in a lot of books for the main character.I like that Natalie is really good at what she does and is told to not fake humility because in her chosen field she needs to take her place in the spotlight when it's earned. I also like that she's given a cautionary glimpse as to what her reckless fame chasing could very well lead to and it does scare her. The correlation is made and it seems to stick, if only for now.Personally, I could've done without the subplot involving Chase because it felt like someone said that a love triangle was needed but not too much of one and the weird dynamics between Quinn and Natalie probably didn't really need Chase thrown into the mix as well. Or maybe I just don't like triangles that are resolved when the third party is an obvious skeeze and there's really no doubt as to who the victor will or should be. That's on me, though. Overall, I really enjoyed Mammoth and it's going on my to recommend list for sure.I received an ARC of this book and this was the honest review. Huzzah

[aimless22 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Natalie Page is high school junior who wins a scholarship for a prestigious internship at an Ice Age dig site near Austin, Texas. The novel begins by telling us the Natalie is a fashion-conscious, overweight, paleontology geek with a blog about all of the above.We go along with her as she meets the other interns at the dig site and learns that her fashion sense does not always mix well with the tasks she is expected to do as an intern. She fangirls over Dr. Thomas Carver, a famous paleontologist with his own podcast about his merits and adventures. She loves her Aunt Judy, who helped her reinvent herself between middle and high school. She learned how to be awesome instead of "fat Nat".The story reveals the path that Natalie must travel in order to learn to be herself, love herself, and let others love her.First crushing on fellow intern, Chase, but getting disappointed. Second learning one of her roommates, Quinn, is the daughter of her idol, Dr. Carver. Third, figuring out that Cody is more than just a part time tour guide at the museum/dig site.Her fearlessness and urgent desire to become a paleontologist lead to both good and bad adventures. Will she be able to salvage her career desires and her personal relationships?