This was an enjoyable book, it had that element that I was wanting from the description and thought worked with the father and daughter concept. I was invested in learning about the bond and how dinosaurs brought them closer together. B.J. Hollars wrote this so well and was glad I got to read this.

Dinosaur Dreams: A Father and Daughter in Search of America’s Prehistoric Past by B.J. Hollar’s is a warmly intimate recap of a two-week journey he took with his nine-year-old daughter Ellie to complete the entire 2000-mile Dinosaur Trail in Montana. While I would have liked a bit more depth, moments where he followed lines of thoughts further, and some more expansive musing, it makes for a lovely read. And since my own experiences traveling pretty much everywhere the two go, mostly with my own young son, means I can attest to the accuracy of his descriptions of places and also allowed the book to bring up a number of fond memories.

While one gets of course some information on dinosaurs — their extinction, the various species, milestone discoveries and changing viewpoints — the focus here is much more on the humans in the story. Whether that be well known figures in paleontology, such as Edward Drinker Cope and Charles Marsh (opponents in the famous “Bone Wars” of the 19th century); more recent scientists like Robert Bakker (pushed idea that dinosaurs were warm-blooded early on) and Jack Horner (argued some dinosaurs cared for their young); amateur paleontologists like Tom Hebert (also a former student of Hollar’s); curators of small museums in small towns like Sean Doyle (Choteau), Samantha Friench (Chinook), Lila Redding (Rudyard); and people Hollar and his daughter simply ran into at campgrounds, such as James Kelly (a motorcyclist) and Diane Stinger (musician).

What I appreciated was how Hollar presented all these people and their work on a human level rather than as information to be related or mined. The way he makes clear that the Dinosaur Trail, besides being a fantastic trip for tourists (and it absolutely is btw), is also a monetary lifeline to small towns that have seen their populations plummet over time, children leaving, services declining. Or the way he discusses his time spent at a creationist museum (one I and my son also visited) discussing the alternate view of extinction, evolution, and earth history with its curator not with a sense of mockery but with respect and generosity, and how while he notes “I could fill an ark with all the differences between Robert and me,” he also points out that “I could fill a second ark with everything we’ve got in common.” It was also nice to read a book that brings in the lesser known figures who contribute to our understanding of dinosaurs and the past: the volunteers, the museum works and curators, the amateurs who picked up a stray bone and showed it to a professional.

Always at the center though, is the relationship between Ellie and Hollar, which is wholly relatable. And anyone who has ever had kids will recognize moments like this one, as Hollar watches his daughter at a river’s edge:

Something like wonder crosses Ellie’s face as she wades into its ankle-deep water. I feel it too. We’re sharing a piece of the world that we have found together … Then — as the last of the light fades beneath the million-year-old Rimrocks —a change occurs. Just like that, the kid is gone, and a preteen Ellie appears in her place. I am stunned by this transformation, which has undoubtedly been occurring for weeks but is only now catching up with me now. Why is it that evolutionary change can take millions of years within species but happens in a heartbeat when it’s your daughter? … “Ready?” she asks. Never, I think.


As much as I enjoyed reading Dinosaur Dreams, I found myself wishing for my lines similar to those above. More of the author musing on his daughter’s maturation, the inevitable widening between (even if only geographically) as she grows older. More as well on what gets briefly touched upon in the book: the impact of climate change, our deleterious effect on the environment. Because what’s here is so well done, I like to think going somewhat further and farther would have made a good book a great one. Still, an easy recommendation

I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. I LOVE dinosaurs so of course I had to read this book about a father and daughter trip to the Montana Dinosaur Trail. First of all, how have I never heard of this place before when my teen loves dinosaurs? This definitely made me want to visit the Montana Dinosaur Trail although not in a tent. I'm definitely putting this adventure on my Bucket List and you should put this book on your TBR if you have any interest in dinosaurs and learning more about the early days of dinosaur fossil hunting.

A father and daughter embark on a two-week trip from Wisconsin to Montana in order to stop at all of the places along the Montana Dinosaur Trail. Along the way they encounter storms, a dinosaur dig, a religious museum that includes dinosaurs, and so much more. The author gives background information about the history of dinosaur hunting. Although this is focused on exploring the Montana Dinosaur Trail, it also explores family, friends, growing up, road trips, and so much more.

This book is so delightful that I took to social media even before I'd finished it to tout it. It pays homage to my treasured home state, as well as to my childhood passions (dinosaurs, digs, etc.). The author visited places I adore, marveled at the beauty of Montana, and lived out some of my dreams. I laughed out loud, delighted in their discoveries, and shared in the fun and laughter. It brought me immense joy and sparked fond memories of visiting Fort Peck with my grandparents, visiting Museum of the Rockies with friends and students, marveling at Makoshika, stopping at the rock shop in Bynam, and so much more.

This book feels like a love letter to my beloved home state, dinosaurs, small towns, community, connections, and family.

Verdict: My favorite book this season, and one of my favorites for this year. It's one my Christmas wishlist, as I want my own copy to re-read and savor and share with loved ones.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this delightful book!